JERUSALEM, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Maccabi Haifa won Israel's football Premier League title after a 3-2 home win against Hapoel Beer Sheva on Sunday evening.
This is the club's 13th championship title, and the first since 2011, which secured the team a spot in UEFA's Champions League qualifiers.
Haifa finished with a four-point gap at the top of the league table over the outgoing champion Maccabi Tel Aviv, who drew 2-2 at home against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona.
In front of 30,000 fans at the Sammy Ofer Stadium in the northern city of Haifa, the home team secured the title in the first half, which ended 3-0.
Two of the goals were scored on penalties, by Omer Atzili in the 13th minute, and by Surinamese international Tjarron Chery just before halftime.
Sandwiched between the penalties, Australian striker Nikita Rukavytsya, top scorer of the Israeli league, scored in the 34th minute - his 19th league goal in the season.
Beer Sheva scored twice, through Tomer Yosefi in the 58th minute and Brazilian Farley Rosa in the 80th minute, but it did not prevent Haifa's fans from celebrating after the final whistle.
The Israeli football season will end on Wednesday, in a derby match in the state cup final between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv. Enditem
