20 goals, 3 scored penalties and 9 (!) red cards - this was the story of the last weekend, disastrous for most of the home teams. 4 weeks have passed, and the top is extremely surprising, as well as the bottom.
Maccabee Haifa lost at home, 0:1 to Hapoel Tel-Aviv, and the guests are the 2nd, still without conceding a goal; the Greens dropped to the 5th place. The lead is re-conquered, as we consider the goals scored, by Hapoel Jerusalem, defeating Hapoel Kefar-Saba away, 2:1; the team of Yossi Mizrahi is quite surprising. Another surprises are Hapoel Rishon le-Zion of Eyal Lakhman, making a home 1:1 draw vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv and causing the former top team to drop under the red line, and Maccabee Ironi Ashdod of Rami Levi, devastating the Cup holders Hapoel Beer-Sheva, 3:1 at home. Those were also the first victories of Hapoel Ashkelon, 3:1 away over Hapoel Beit-Shean, and of Maccabee Herzliya, 3:2 away over Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv. In Petakh-Tikwa's derby, a penalty kick of Moti Kakun for a dubious foul gave Hapoel a victory over Maccabee; the successful "European" club pushes forward, while Maccabee of Moshe Sinai is surprisingly the last. And finally, a great keeping of young and quite unexperienced Dudu Awwat saved Hapoel Haifa in Jerusalem, 0:0 vs Beitar.
Indeed, Alon Mizrahi was well-closed by Asi Domb, and indeed, Sergei Kandaurov was closely watched by Krasimierz Muskal, but still, Maccabee Haifa was holding the ball most of the time during the 1st half; however, all the dangerous opportunities were of the guests, Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Nir Davidovich parried two very dangerous shots of Felix Halfon and Offer Shitrit, but 2 minutes before the break, he could do nothing to prevent the guests' winner. A badly performed offside trap let Yaacov Hillel's pass find Asi Domb undisturbed inside Haifa's box, and Domb raised his mighty right leg and shot an unstoppable bomb from 15 meters, "The Goal Of The Week" (as for "Ha'Daka Ha'91") from "The Man Of The Game".
Hezi Shirazi substituted Avishai Zhano for the 2nd half, and Haifa began looking better and much more dangerous; a bright solo penetration of Kandaurov resulted in a shot to the bar (52), and then a foul on Shirazi was continued by a brilliant free kick of Kandaurov from 18 meters, parried no less greatly by Shavit Elimelekh. However, Shirazi had been sent off 18 minutes from time after a very dirty foul on Avi Azulai, and Haifa stopped sparkling and even lost the initiative. Before the end, both teams registered one post each, Golan Deri for the hosts and Offer Shitrit for the guests; Arik Benado had even scored 4 minutes from time, but the goal was disallowed because of Benado's foul on Yaacov Hillel before the header. This way or another, Hapoel managed to win even without its treasure, Georgi Daraselia (preparing for the WC'98 preliminary game of Georgia vs Italy), and its net hadn't yet been shocked with a ball inside; as for Haifa, it lost its 1st game this season and dropped to the 5th place. Still, its game the next week vs Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy will cause a tremendous interest.
Apropos, Hapoel Jerusalem - the team of Yossi Mizrahi is at the top position, with 10 points out of 12 possible, as much as Hapoel Tel-Aviv has, but with more goals scored. This time the victim was Hapoel Kefar-Saba. Kefar-Saba looked better during the 1st half, but a goal was scored at the other side - Dudi Stolper bounced a ball to Assaf Tubi, who was knocked down by Tamir Netser and scored himself from the penalty spot. In the 2nd half, Laszlo Czeh scored another goal after a goal pass of the same Dudi Stolper, and Kefar-Saba seemed unable to stop the capital inhabitants. Nevertheless, Paolo Corvinel reduced the score 11 minutes from time, after a first shot of Celsao Sousa had been parried greatly by Liran Strauber. Everything had been already said about Hapoel Jerusalem, and as for Kefar-Saba - the teams plays quite an enjoyable soccer, and its Brazilian players are not bad, but that doesn't bring them the points for the 3rd consecutive week, because of their penetratable and conceding defence.
Playing away vs Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, Maccabee Tel-Aviv hoped to cut the successes of Eyal Lakhman and to obtain its first victory this season. Neither of those happened. Sagi Strauss parried greatly an early dangerous shot of Avi Nimni, and Eli Driks wasted 2 golden chances for an opener in front of an empty net; however, Maccabee still scored first before the break from the penalty of Avi Nimni, after Eli Driks had been fouled inside the box by Avi Pitusi. However, Offer Levi was sent off immediately after the break, and Rishon's goal was in the air - it finally came, 11 minutes after the break, when Moshe Sebeg got the ball from Nissan Capeta and shot without stopping at half a height past Alexander Uvarov who didn't move. Unfortunately for the hosts, immediately after the equalizer a stupid foul of Eyal Cohen on Avi Nimni left his team in 10 men as well. Both teams had one good opportunity to score each before the end - Nir Klinger's header missed the frame, and Alexander Uvarov made a double save from the shots of Zlatko Zupatic and Nissan Capeta. I hardly remember a time when Maccabee Tel-Aviv was the 15th, but now it's the bitter reality for the Yellows.
Another successful team from the last year, the Cup holder Hapoel Beer-Sheva, definitely wished to open the season in a better fashion as well. After quite a hesitant start, Maccabee Ironi Ashdod scored twice before the break. First, a great pass of Alon Hazan sent Naor Galili into a fabulous penetration at the left wing to throw the ball over Alexei Zakharov and to roll it past Shaul Smadja (32); in another 8 minutes, Yossi Madar who shot a mighty ball under Smadja's stomach, 2:0. In the 2nd half, a great save of Ashdod's 2nd keeper Guy Nakhshon (Akakiy Devadze seems to be still injured) from the deflection (60) of his own defender Victor Genish (!) left the score intact for 4 more minutes - then, it was Alon Riff's shot from 20 meters to pass the fence of legs and to end its way in Ashdod's net. However, the last goal of this game was no equalizer - a magnificent penetration of Amir Turgeman at the right wing found the substitute Igal Zrihen 18 meters from the net, and the latter curved without stopping a charming ball over the hands of desperately flying Smadja under his left crossbar. 3:1 to the newcomers!
Another newcomers, Hapoel Ashkelon, won their game in Beit-Shean with the same score, 3:1. Beit-Shean opened the score (23), as Moris Uzan shot the ball, and the keeper Asi Rakhamim parried it to the legs of Udi Shnorman who rolled the rebound in. However, Ashklelon equalized with a goal rare in its beauty; Beit-Shean's defender headed the ball outside his box, and Sagi Eini let the ball jump at the ground and then sent an unstoppable shot from 25 meters under the bar of Meir Cohen, my "Goal Of The Week". And in the 2nd half, those were the moments of Ashkelon's foreigners - first, Dudu Dahan's pass found Georgi Anchavadze who scored from inside the box (55), and after another 15 minutes, it was a great solo move of David Kazelashvili to let Samir Znapir, our "Player Of The Week", score. The same David Kazelashvili was sent off 13 minutes from time, for cursing the referee.
An interesting game was held in Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa, where Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv hosted Maccabee Herzliya. Rafi Cohen, even being in a top form, couldn't prevent Herzliya from scoring, twice through Yaniv Cohen - first, Cohen rolled the ball in after several rebounds (9), and then, it was a great mistake of Timur Tugashi to bring the ball to Santos Sierra for a goal pass (35). Later on, Shuki Nagar reduced the score with a great free kick (37), after his first attempt several minutes earlier went to the left post of Gilardi; Gilardi was also unable to prevent the header of Nissim Avitan from penetrating into his net (58). And still, Herzliya was the winning team - Santos Sierra wasted 2 opportunities to head the ball home during the 2nd half, but 3 minutes from time, his header was unstoppable. The team of Shiya Feigenbaum looks well, and the team of Viko Hadad has a great keeper, but also lots of problems.
Talking about keeping - it was clearly the day of Dudu Awwat, a young 2nd keeper of Hapoel Haifa, who sealed his net in an away game against the defending Champions, Beitar Jerusalem. In addition to his bright saves, those were the post of Yossi Abuksis (23) and the incredible misses of the hosts to leave the score intact. Awwat registered "The Save Of The Week" in an injury time, when Salloi left Sevilla alone 5 meters from the net, but the keeper blocked his shot. Haifa had all of its opportunities wasted by Liron Basis - 3 times (3, 4, 42) the forward was standing all alone in front of Itzhak Korenfein, but twice he missed the frame and once saw a brilliant save of the 2nd National Keeper. 3 red cards were shown in the game; Alon Halfon of Hapoel Haifa was sent off with a 2nd yellow card, and beforehand, Tomer Azulai and Sergen Culakovic were thrown off the pitch together for kicking and punching each other. For Culakovic, it was a 2nd red card in the first 4 weeks of the season!
And finally, it was the derby of Petakh-Tikwa, again with Hapoel as a winning side, and again with the red cards for Maccabee players. This time, those were 2 players sent off after 74 minutes of play - first, Amiran Mogieri spitted on Walid Badir, and after the red card shown to him, it was the turn of Noam Keisi who pushed the referee Haim Yaacov. And if the referee made correct decisions in sending those players off, he had been badly mistaken in giving Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa a victory - 18 minutes in the 1st half, Walid Badir dived after an impact with Sharon Tsofin, but the referee awarded a penalty converted into a goal by Moti Kakun. Scoring 3 times from a penalty spot out of his 4 goals, Kakun caught nevertheless with Alon Mizrahi in "The Best Scorers List", and Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa faces well forward; as for Maccabee, it closes now the table in one of its most dreadful starts for years.
NEXT WEEK: Hapoel Jerusalem (1) hosts Maccabee Haifa (5), NOT TO BE MISSED!!! Also very interesting - Hapoel Tel-Aviv (2) vs Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (12), Hapoel Beer-Sheva (11) vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv (15), Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (7) vs Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (4), Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (3) vs Beitar Jerusalem (6).
Hapoel Beer-Sheva - Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 1:1 (1:0). [From Week 03]
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Hosts: Dudu Heffer (42).
Guests: Tal Bnaya (64).
THE BEST: Sharon Bukhnik, defender, Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
Hapoel Kefar-Saba - HAPOEL JERUSALEM 1:2 (0:1).
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Hosts: Paolo Corvinel (79).
Guests: Asi Tubi (26 pen), Laszlo Czeh (52).
THE BEST: Dudi Stolper, midfielder, Hapoel Jerusalem.
Maccabee Haifa - HAPOEL TEL-AVIV 0:1 (0:1).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: Asi Domb (43).
RED: Hezi Shirazi, forward, Maccabee Haifa, 72.
THE BEST: Asi Domb, defender, Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
Hapoel Rishon le-Zion - Maccabee Tel-Aviv 1:1 (0:1).
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Hosts: Moshe Sebeg (56).
Guests: Avi Nimni (44 pen).
RED: Offer Levi, defender, Maccabee Tel-Aviv, 46.
Eyal Cohen, defender, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, 57.
THE BEST: Avi Nimni, midfielder, Maccabee Tel-Aviv.
MACCABEE IRONI ASHDOD - Hapoel Beer-Sheva 3:1 (2:0).
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Hosts: Naor Galili (32), Yossi Madar (40), Igal Zrihen (85).
Guests: Alon Riff (64).
THE BEST: Naor Galili, midfielder, Maccabee Ironi Ashdod.
Beitar Jerusalem - Hapoel Haifa 0:0.
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Hosts: -.
Guests: -.
RED: Sergen Culakovic, forward, Hapoel Haifa, 68.
Tomer Azulai, defender, Beitar Jerusalem, 68.
Alon Halfon, defender, Hapoel Haifa, 76.
THE BEST: Dudu Awwat, keeper, Hapoel Haifa.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - HAPOEL PETAKH-TIKWA 0:1 (0:1).
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Hosts: .
Guests: Moti Kakun (18 pen).
RED: Amiran Mogieri, forward, Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, 74.
Noam Keisi, defender, Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, 74.
THE BEST: Walid Badir, defender, Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa.
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 2:3 (1:2).
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Hosts: Shuki Nagar (37), Nissim Avitan (58).
Guests: Yaniv Cohen (9, 35), Santos Sierra (87).
THE BEST: Yaniv Cohen, midfielder, Maccabee Herzliya.
Hapoel Beit-Shean - HAPOEL ASHKELON 1:3 (1:1).
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Hosts: Udi Shnorman (23).
Guests: Sagi Eini (38), Georgi Anchavadze (55), Samir Znapir (70).
RED: David Kazelashvili, midfielder, Hapoel Ashkelon, 77.
THE BEST: Samir Znapir, midfielder, Hapoel Ashkelon.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Dudu Awwat
(Hapoel Haifa)
Felix Halfon Alexander Taikov Asi Domb Shuki Nagar
(Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Hapoel Ashkelon) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv)
Samir Znapir Yaniv Cohen Dudi Stolper Avi Nimni
(Hapoel Ashkelon) (Maccabee Herzliya) (Hapoel Jerusalem) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Santos Sierra Naor Galili
(Maccabee Herzliya) (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv, Maccabee Herzliya, Hapoel Ashkelon - 2.
Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabee Ironi Ashdod, Hapoel Haifa,
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv, Maccabee Tel-Aviv - 1.
THE BEST GOAL:
91: Asi Domb.
Also - Igal Zrihen, Sagi Eini, Moshe Sebeg, Shuki Nagar.
MO: Sagi Eini.
THE BEST SAVE:
MO: Dudu Awwat, from Nir Sevilla, 90.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (3) Hapoel Jerusalem 04 3 1 0 7- 4 10
2 (4) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 04 3 1 0 3- 0 10
3 (2) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 04 2 2 0 8- 3 8
4 (6) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 04 2 2 0 6- 3 8
5 (1) Maccabee Haifa 04 2 1 1 10- 6 7
6 (5) Beitar Jerusalem 04 1 3 0 8- 7 6
7 (12) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 04 2 0 2 6- 8 6
8 (7) Hapoel Haifa 04 1 2 1 2- 2 5
9 (14) Maccabee Herzliya 04 1 1 2 7- 8 4
10 (15) Hapoel Ashkelon 04 1 1 2 6- 7 4
11* (9) Hapoel Beer-Sheva 04 1 1 2 4- 6 4
12* (8) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 04 1 1 2 4- 6 4
13 (10) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 04 1 0 3 6- 8 3
14 (11) Hapoel Beit-Shean 04 1 0 3 5- 8 3
15 (13) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 04 0 2 2 6- 8 2
16 (16) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 04 0 2 2 2- 6 2
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
NOTE: Hapoel Beer-Sheva takes the higher place than Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv, as
their face-to-face meeting finished with 2:0 to Beer-Sheva (Week 01).
BEST PLAYER: Samir Znapir, midfielder, Hapoel Ashkelon.
TOP SCORERS: Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 4(0)
Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 4(3) 1(1)
**********************************************************
Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 3(0)
Evgeniy Kashentsev (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 3(0)
Eli Driks (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 3(0)
Sergei Kandaurov (Maccabee Haifa) 3(0)
**********************************************************
Yaniv Cohen (Maccabee Herzliya) 2(0) 2
Santos Sierra (Maccabee Herzliya) 2(0) 1
Naor Galili (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 2(0) 1
Ilan Bakhar (Maccabee Herzliya) 2(0)
Istvan Pisont (Beitar Jerusalem) 2(0)
Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 2(0)
Eli Tsuref (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 2(0)
Georgi Daraselia (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 2(0)
Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 2(2) 1(1)
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 Jerusalem (1) | Maccabee Haifa (7) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (2) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (12) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (3) | Beitar Jerusalem (6) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (7) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (4) |
| Hapoel Haifa (8) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (13) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (9) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (14) |
| Hapoel Ashkelon (10) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (16) |
| Hapoel Beer-Sheva (11) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (15) |
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