Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Maccabi Petah Tikva 1st with 60 points, Hapoel Afula 4th with 9, 51 apart. Hapoel Afula's recent output lagged their position: 15th on form over five rounds while 4th in the table. Per game in the league, Maccabi Petah Tikva were scoring 2.23 and conceding 1.07, Hapoel Afula 1 and 1.43, against a competition average of 1.34 goals per team per game.
Defeat had not touched Maccabi Petah Tikva in 10 games.
The venue was HaMoshava Stadium, with room for 11,500 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 0-1.
Goal scorers
Hapoel Afula: Eilon Elimelech (61')
Key stats
Possession: Maccabi Petah Tikva 65% · Hapoel Afula 35% · Total shots: 24-6 · On target: 8-2 · Corners: 10-0