Samuel Yeboah was the hero for Hapoel Tel Aviv as his goal was enough to beat Hamburg and secure top spot.
Hamburg fall to defeat on their travels
Samuel Yeboah was the hero for Hapoel Tel Aviv as his goal was enough to beat Hamburg and secure top spot in Group C of the Europa League.
The home win moved Tel Aviv to the group summit as they finished their campaign with 12 points, two ahead of their visitors from Germany.
Both teams went into the game at Bloomfield Stadium knowing they had already qualified for the last 32.
Hamburg coach Bruno Labbadia left a number of regular starters on his bench, including goalkeeper Frank Rost, Jerome Boateng, Dennis Aogo, captain David Jarolim, Eljero Elia and Tunay Torun.
Hamburg's back-up goalkeeper Wolfgang Hesl was tested after just seven minutes as he made a great diving save from Yeboah's blasted shot from 20 yards.
And Itay Shechter shot just wide right a minute later for the hosts.
Hapoel took the lead in the 23rd minute as Marcell Jansen misjudged a high ball from Gil Vermouth and Yeboah hit the ball first time past Hesl.
Hamburg had a superb chance six minutes later when Mladen Petric gathered the ball in the midfield and played a perfect pass to Marcus Berg, whose 11-yard shot was turned away by Hapoel goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
Added firepower
Labbadia knew his team needed more firepower and he brought on Elia and Torun just after the break.
Douglas Da Silva's clearance from Jansen's dangerous ball four minutes after the break almost resulted in an own goal but the ball went just wide of the left post.
Elia provided spark in the Hamburg attack and the Dutchman had plenty of space in the 59th minute but Hapoel captain Walid Badir denied him.
Even though Hamburg dominated the run of play, the Israelis had their chances to make it 2-0 including Shechter's header which went just inches wide right after 67 minutes.
The Germans tried to push forward for the equaliser but could not find a goal, and Ben Dayan was just off target in a counter-attack with five minutes left for the Israelis.
