JERUSALEM, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Two-time Chinese Super League (CSL) top scorer Eran Zahavi scored twice to lead Maccabi Tel Aviv to a 5-0 home win over Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday, securing the 26th Israeli Premier League title in the club's history.
In front of 30,000 fans at Tel Aviv's Bloomfield Stadium, Zahavi played his last match for Maccabi, following the recent announcement of his departure from the club.
He received a standing ovation from the crowd when he was substituted in the 69th minute, and walked off the pitch in tears between two rows of applauding teammates.
The 37-year-old star played for Guangzhou R&F between 2016 and 2020, topping the CSL scorers list in 2017 with 27 goals, and in 2019 with a then all-time league record of 29 goals.
Zahavi played six and a half seasons for Maccabi across two stints, winning five championship titles and one State Cup with the club.
The other three goals for the Yellow-Blues came from midfielder Dor Peretz, striker Dor Turgeman and Beitar defender Jaen Marcelin's own goal.
Runners-up Hapoel Beer Sheva beat Hapoel Haifa 5-0 at home, finishing with 78 points, two fewer than Maccabi.
Maccabi Tel Aviv will compete in next season's UEFA Champions League qualifiers, while Beer Sheva, Maccabi Haifa, and Jerusalem will head to the Europa League or Conference League.
The Israeli season will end next Thursday with the State Cup final between Beer Sheva and Beitar Jerusalem. ■
