Maccabi Tel Aviv celebrating
Photo: Reuven Shcwartz
Maccabi Tel Aviv beats rivals to retain Israeli title
Star striker leads club to second consecutive league title after securing win in top-of-the-table clash.
Maccabi Tel Aviv won a second consecutive Israeli league title on Saturday after Eran Zehavi struck twice to secure a 2-1 win at Hapoel Beersheba in a top-of-the-table clash.
Maccabi wrapped up the title with three games to spare, having dominated the campaign from the start, and have 77 points from 33 games for an unassailable 13-point lead over Beersheba.
Striker Zehavi fired home from close range in the 12th minute and added a penalty in the 31st against a Beersheba side who had to win to stay in the title race but could only manage a late consolation goal from Gabbay's spot kick in the 84th.
Maccabi, who lost only four league games all season, have clinched a place in next season's Champions League second qualifying round.
