PETAH TIKVA, Israel (Interstat) — Maccabi Haifa scored twice in a four-minute second-half burst and rallied for a 2-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva at HaMoshava Stadium on Saturday. The visitors trailed after Eyal Einbrom put Maccabi Petah Tikva ahead in the 13th minute, but Ethane Azoulay and Noam Sztejfman answered after halftime to keep Maccabi Haifa perfect in the competition and across all competitions.

Maccabi Petah Tikva struck first when Einbrom finished in the 13th minute. Einbrom, who played 87 minutes before being substituted, gave the home side an early lead. Maccabi Petah Tikva held that advantage through much of the first half and into the second, and the match grew more physical before the break. Cohen I. was shown a yellow card in first-half stoppage time, a booking that came as Maccabi Haifa pressed for an equalizer. Maccabi Haifa went into the interval trailing by one goal and made its push after the restart.

Maccabi Haifa broke through in the 62nd minute when Azoulay scored. The goal changed the match, and Maccabi Haifa needed only four more minutes to complete the turnaround. Sztejfman scored in the 66th minute to put the visitors ahead, and Maccabi Haifa protected the lead from there. Azoulay played the full 90 minutes and was later booked in the 71st minute. Sztejfman also played the full match and scored the decisive goal. Kenny Saief recorded an assist before being replaced in the 63rd minute, and Bruninho also recorded an assist before his 77th-minute withdrawal. Brazao P. was booked for Maccabi Haifa in the 76th minute as the visitors saw out the closing stages.

The goals from Azoulay and Sztejfman came after Maccabi Haifa had trailed for most of the first hour. Maccabi Petah Tikva’s early goal remained the only score until the 62nd minute, when Azoulay leveled. Sztejfman then put Maccabi Haifa in front four minutes later, and the visiting defense held through the final 24 minutes of regulation. The home side could not find a second goal after that.

Maccabi Haifa made a triple substitution in the 63rd minute, bringing on Bataille J., Mohamed A. and replacing Saief K. Gorre K. followed in the 71st minute, and Bruninho was replaced in the 77th minute. Maccabi Petah Tikva turned to its bench in the 67th minute with Yao E., then made two changes in the 79th minute with Tibi E. and Salem A. Cortes J. entered in the 80th minute, and Einbrom came off in the 87th minute after his goal. The late changes helped both sides manage the final stages. Maccabi Haifa’s bench included Bataille, Mohamed and Gorre, while Petah Tikva used Yao, Tibi, Salem and Cortes.

With the result, Maccabi Haifa’s season record in this competition is now 2 wins and 0 losses. Maccabi Petah Tikva’s season record in this competition is now 0 wins and 2 losses. Maccabi Haifa’s season record across all competitions is now 2 wins and 0 losses. Maccabi Petah Tikva’s season record across all competitions is now 0 wins and 2 losses. Maccabi Haifa had previously won 4-1 at Hapoel Jerusalem, while Maccabi Petah Tikva had lost 2-1 at Hapoel Haifa earlier this season. The result kept Maccabi Haifa unbeaten this season and left Maccabi Petah Tikva still seeking its first win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 2-1 Maccabi Haifa victory, and its ELO system gave Maccabi Haifa a 67.1 percent chance to win. Maccabi Haifa was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 3 went over the over-under line of 3.5.