Maccabi Tel Aviv Dominates Rival in Derby Win; Davida Defends Goal Celebration

Maccabi Tel Aviv continued their perfect start to the season, securing a decisive 4-1 victory over rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the derby. The win propelled Maccabi Tel Aviv to 12 points from four matches, maintaining their position at the top of the league standings. Hapoel Tel Aviv remains on 7 points after a frustrating evening.

Oser Davida scored against his former club in the 19th minute, initiating the celebration. Other goals for Maccabi Tel Aviv came from Hisam Layous, who also scored against his previous team, and substitute Elad Madmon, who contributed a goal and an assist. Dor Peretz continued his impressive scoring streak with his seventh goal in four games.

Hapoel Tel Aviv pointed to the second yellow card and subsequent red card shown to Stav Touriyal in first-half stoppage time as a pivotal moment that altered the game's dynamics. Coach Eliniv Barda stated that while his team responded well initially and was competitive, the red card critically impacted their style of play and the overall outcome. Goalkeeper Assaf Tzur apologized to the fans for the loss, emphasizing the team's need to regroup.

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Keni Miller praised his team's "fantastic performance" and their ability to execute effectively when playing at their best. Davida addressed his "pew pew" goal celebration, which he has used recently, explaining it was not intended as provocation and that he would have celebrated similarly had he scored for the opposing team. The derby result leaves Hapoel Tel Aviv with a sense of missed opportunity, largely attributed to the red card incident.