21 goals, 2 red cards, 3 penalties scored and 3 (or, probably, 4?..) surprises registered - this was the harvest of the last weekend. What else should be mentioned? Well, several great goals, 2 wonderful performances given by the Olympic keeper of Israel and the National keeper of Georgia... And I'm extremely glad to share my joy with all the fans of Maccabee Haifa - indeed, the Greens woke up too late, but they became the only team this season to equalize the personal balance against Beitar Jerusalem.
So, the biggest surprise was in Jerusalem, where the Greens scored 2 unanswered goals of a great beauty to defeat the leaders. Hapoel Beer-Sheva and Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa used this surprise to close the top gap - both top teams registered the 3:1 victories, respectively over Hapoel Jerusalem at home and Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv away. Maccabee Tel-Aviv was defeated all of a sudden at home by Hapoel Kefar-Saba, as a great goal of Haim Hageage wasn't enough against the 2 penalties converted by Yaniv Avvargeal. Two 1:1 draws were reached, Maccabee Herzliya vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv and Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa vs Hapoel Beit-Shean. Hapoel Haifa was defeated all of a sudden at home by Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, 0:3; Haifa played without Tal Banin, who was expelled from the team after an interview in which he criticized the Croatian coach Ivan Katalinic. And finally, a very important victory for Hapoel Taibe, 1:0 at home vs Tsafririm Holon; Taibe, playing in the memory of the late Wahib Jebarra, probably won't help itself, but it surely helped Hapoel Tel-Aviv which found itself above the red line, and complicated the situation of Tsafririm which is now Taibe's neighbor in the table. And now - let's go to the details.
From the very first minutes of play, Beitar Jerusalem was pressing Maccabee Haifa to its net, but the awful misses and a wonderful skill of Nir Davidovich left the score intact. The situation stayed the same in the 2nd half, but 8 minutes after its start, a shock hit the tribunes - in the first counterattack of Haifa, Idan Shum advanced and shot a terrific ball from 25 meters under the left bar of the helpless Itzhak Korenfein, "The Goal Of The Week". Beitar was extremely furious after this unexpected development and continued attacking vigorously, only to see a marvellous double save of Davidovich from the shots of Eli Ohana and Itzhak Zohar. And then, Haifa stroke again - a great penetration of Moshe Glam at the left wing resulted in a pass to the box, Hezi Shirazi missed the ball, but Sergei Kandaurov (flourishing in the last games, but after all, waking up too late, as all the team) slid for 5 meters to send the ball into the right exposed post of Korenfein and in. What could result in a great miss (just several centimeters to the right), finally turned out to be a great winner. Maccabee Haifa returned itself a little bit of respect; and as for Beitar Jerusalem, it needs to recover if its wish still is to win the title. Eli Ohana expressed well the fears of the players: "If we miss the title now, it will be the most awful miss in the history of the Israeli soccer". Another problem of Beitar - its wonderful foreigner, Istvan Pisont, broke his arm and will probably be absent for the rest of the season...
This victory of the Greens gave a certain hope to Hapoel Beer-Sheva, the team with another victory yesterday, this time over Hapoel Jerusalem at home. Dudu Heffer scored the first goal after 37 minutes of play, when he used a certain defect of the pitch to mislead the keeper Jaroslav Baku. A wonderful Michel Dayan made a goal pass to Assaf Tubi who equalized with a header early in the 2nd half. However, Heffer gave Beer-Sheva an advantage again, heading the ball to the left post of Baku and in after the assist of Siad Halilovic (55). Halilovic himself said the last word in the game as he converted the penalty kick, after Heffer had been knocked down inside the box by Moti Ohayon. 3:1, and the runners-up are in a top form.
However, it's now also the recovery of Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa which defeated the Oranges of Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv away, 3:1. The 1st half brought several chances to both teams, but no goals were scored; and 10 minutes after the break, a wonderful goal of Gabor Marton opened the score - Eli Abrabanel sent a corner kick outside the box, and Marton waited there with a raised right foot to sent a terrific volley from 20 meters, the ball hit the back of Nissim Cohen and penetrated into the right corner of Guy Nakhshon at half a height. In another 2 minutes, it was already 2:0 - Nakhshon managed to block the first header of Yaniv Offri, but Moti Kakun was there to shoot into an empty net. The great forward Alon Mizrahi reduced the score with a header of his, but it still was Moti Kakun to say the last word 3 minutes before the final whistle, 3:1.
Those 2 results seem to leave Maccabee Tel-Aviv without Europe if it doesn't advance in the Cup - the double holders suddenly lost at home to Hapoel Kefar-Saba! The Yellows stayed in 10 men after just 13 minutes of play - Yaniv Avvargeal passed Alexander Uvarov and curved the ball into a close corner, and Amir Shelakh stretched well to parry the ball with his hand and to see the red card; Avvargeal himself scored from the penalty spot. Maccabee equalized after a great effort of Guy Nakhman and Haim Hageage - the first heeled the ball back before the wall of defenders, and the second shot it powerfully and flatly to the far corner of Eran Scheinsinger. Maccabee was close to its 2nd goal, but an awful refereeing of Haim Yaacov did not give them the justified penalty kicks; and then, another penalty kick was earned on the other side, when Yaniv Avvargeal, "The Man Of The Week", was knocked down inside the box by Gadi Brumer and converted again. And in the 2nd half, it was Hapoel Kefar-Saba which could've scored, but Alexander Uvarov managed to deny Avvargeal's shot. Nir Klinger missed the frame 2 minutes from time, and so a certain justice was done - Kefar-Saba deserved to win.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa had an "easy" game against Hapoel Beit-Shean, but it turned it to be quite a hard one; the favourites got just 1 point and stayed the 5th. Offer Shitrit opened the score quickly, when his long right foot changed the direction of Haim Shabo's shot and sent it under the bar of Meir Cohen. However, Hapoel Beit-Shean recovered, and Boris Matveyev, "The Best On The Pitch", managed to make a goal pass to Meir Melika soon after the break. Beit-Shean was playing in 10 men for the last 29 minutes, after Eitan Taib had been sent off with his 2nd yellow card; still, the team managed to leave the score intact and to leave completely the dangerous zone. No "War Film - 3" - it seems that the team saved itself from relegation several weeks before the end of the League.
Hapoel Haifa, without the expelled captain Tal Banin, couldn't be an equal rival to the guests, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion. In an extremely weak day of Haifa, Dani Albert opened the score after 16 minutes of play, performing a double pass with Eyal Cohen and shooting flatly past Rafi Cohen from inside the box. Immediately after the break, Avi Pitusi used the pass of Dani Albert to shoot flatly from 18 meters - Rafi Cohen touched the ball, but couldn't prevent it from entering the net. 6 minutes from time, Tal Bnaya got the ball from Dani Albert, passed Rafi Cohen and rolled the ball under the National keeper's stomach, 3:0. Rishon managed to recover after a painful home loss to Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, and as for Haifa, it was a huge disappointment.
In an important bottom game between Maccabee Herzliya and Hapoel Tel-Aviv, a 1:1 draw was registered. After a dry 1st half, Roman Filipchuk scored an opener, touching the rebound after Shavit Elimelekh had parried the first shot of Ellad Koren. Herzliya wanted to finish the game with a victory, but 4 minutes from time, its plans were spoiled - Yossi Madar curved a free kick from 18 meters above the wall and above Shuli Gilardi. 1:1, and Hapoel Tel-Aviv finally managed to climb above the red line. And as for Herzliya, it seems again to be out of the dangerous zone.
Last but not the least - Hapoel Taibe registered its first victory after 18 games with just 1 point collected! Yaacov Hillel made a pass into the box 11 minutes from time, and Moti Eberbaum rolled the winner under the hand of Alexander Zhidkov. Hapoel Taibe played for the memory of its player, the late Wahib Jebarra, and therefore, it had much more fighting spirit than the disappointing Holon; Holon created some opportunities, but saw Akakiy Devadze in his very best. This way, the fight in the bottom just begins...
NEXT WEEK (this Saturday): Hapoel Kefar-Saba (6) hosts Beitar Jerusalem (1), in a very important game for the leaders; NOT TO BE MISSED! Besides, those will be the replays of the two Cup games of this week, just with the swapping of the hosts: Maccabee Haifa (8) will host Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (9), and Hapoel Tel-Aviv (14) will host Maccabee Tel-Aviv (4).
Beitar Jerusalem - MACCABEE HAIFA 0:2 (0:0). ---------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. Guests: Idan Shum (53), Sergei Kandaurov (67). THE BEST: Nir Davidovich, keeper, Maccabee Haifa. HAPOEL BEER-SHEVA - Hapoel Jerusalem 3:1 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Dudu Heffer (37, 55), Siad Halilovic (71 pen). Guests: Assaf Tubi (48). THE BEST: Dudu Heffer, midfielder, Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - HAPOEL PETAKH-TIKWA 1:3 (0:0). ------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Alon Mizrahi (66). Guests: Gabor Marton (55), Moti Kakun (57, 87). THE BEST: Moti Kakun, forward, Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa. Maccabee Tel-Aviv - HAPOEL KEFAR-SABA 1:2 (1:2). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Haim Hageage (20). Guests: Yaniv Avvargeal (13 pen, 40 pen). RED: Amir Shelakh, defender, Maccabee Tel-Aviv, 13. THE BEST: Yaniv Avvargeal, forward, Hapoel Kefar-Saba. Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - Hapoel Beit-Shean 1:1 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Offer Shitrit (8). Guests: Meir Melika (49). RED: Eitan Taib, defender, Hapoel Beit-Shean, 61. THE BEST: Boris Matveyev, midfielder, Hapoel Beit-Shean. Hapoel Haifa - HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION 0:3 (0:1). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. Guests: Dani Albert (16), Avi Pitusi (46), Tal Bnaya (84). THE BEST: Dani Albert, midfielder, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion. Maccabee Herzliya - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:1 (0:0). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Roman Filipchuk (65). Guests: Yossi Madar (86). THE BEST: Roman Filipchuk, forward, Maccabee Herzliya. HAPOEL TAIBE - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 1:0 (0:0). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Moti Eberbaum (79). Guests: -. THE BEST: Akakiy Devadze, keeper, Hapoel Taibe. THE WEEK'S TEAM: ---------------- Nir Davidovich (Maccabee Haifa) Meir Azran Arik Benado Offir Ben-Haim Moshe Glam (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) (Maccabee Haifa) (Hapoel Taibe) (Maccabee Haifa) Dani Albert Bogdan Ujebyak Dudu Heffer Eli Abrabanel (Rishon le-Zion) (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) (Hap. Beer-Sheva) (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) Moti Kakun Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) Maccabee Haifa - 3. Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, Hapoel Kefar-Saba, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion - 2. Hapoel Beer-Sheva, Hapoel Taibe - 1. PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points 1 (1) Beitar Jerusalem 25 18 4 3 53-16 58 2 (2) Hapoel Beer-Sheva 25 17 2 6 40-21 53 3 (3) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 25 15 6 4 44-25 51 4 (4) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 25 13 6 6 44-26 45 5 (5) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 25 12 7 6 36-21 43 6 (7) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 25 10 6 9 28-27 36 7 (6) Hapoel Haifa 25 10 5 10 28-27 35 8 (9) Maccabee Haifa 25 8 9 8 29-27 33 9 (8) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 24* 9 6 9 24-29 33 10 (10) Hapoel Jerusalem 25 8 5 12 26-36 29 11 (11) Hapoel Beit-Shean 25 7 6 12 21-27 27 12 (12) Maccabee Herzliya 25 8 3 14 16-24 27 13 (13) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 25 7 6 12 27-43 27 14 (15) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 25 4 9 12 13-25 21 15 (14) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 25 4 9 12 15-33 21 16 (16) Hapoel Taibe 24* 4 1 19 14-51 13 * - missing game IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams before this week. BEST PLAYER: Yaniv Avvargeal, forward, Hapoel Kefar-Saba. TOP SCORERS: Alon Mizrahi (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 15(6) 1 ********************************************************* Offer Shitrit (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 14(3) 1 Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 14(4) 2 ********************************************************* Eli Ohana (Beitar Jerusalem) 13(1) ********************************************************* Itzhak Zohar (Beitar Jerusalem) 12(3) Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 12(4) ********************************************************* Yaniv Offri (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 11(0) ********************************************************* Istvan Salloi (Beitar Jerusalem) 10(0) ********************************************************* Guy Itzhak (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 9(0) Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 9(3) 2(2) Shai Holtzman (Hapoel Beer-Sheva) 9(3) NOTE - the penalties scored are put in brackets. The last column means the number of goals scored this week. THE NEXT ROUND (in a week):
Hosts | Guests |
Hapoel Kefar-Saba (6) | Beitar Jerusalem (1) |
Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (13) | Hapoel Beer-Sheva (2) |
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (3) | Hapoel Taibe (16) |
Hapoel Tel-Aviv (14) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (4) |
Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (15) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (5) |
Hapoel Beit-Shean (11) | Hapoel Haifa (6) |
Maccabee Haifa (8) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (9) |
Hapoel Jerusalem (10) | Maccabee Herzliya (12) |
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