HAPOEL HAIFA - Maccabee Herzliya 2:0 (0:0). --------------------------------------------- Hosts: Dmitriy Ulyanov (73), Offer Talker (81). | Awwat 6; Talker 6, Ben-Shimon 6, Ami Azulai 6.5, Grayib 5; Zeituni 6, | Ulyanov 5.5, GIOVANNI ROSSO 7, Milenko 5 (Ben-Margi, 81); Basis 6 (Ilan | Tal, 86), Nissim 5 (Humreiki, 54 - 5). ******** Guests: -. | Gilardi 6.5; S. Asraf 5, Y. Koretski 5.5, Barmecher 6, Entebbi 6; Gat 5, | Ivanov 6, Niederhaus 6, Amit Levi 5 (Zanetti, 75), L. Asulin 5 (Simhon, | 54 - 5.5); Dantziger 5.5 (E. Messika, 86). ******** REFEREE: Eyal Tsur (8). AUDIENCE: 5,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
Even the skeptical views of Lazio's interest in Giovanni Rosso were exchanged with the roaming applauses when the magic Croatian midfielder left the pitch; his extraordinary skill was the engine to move Haifa forward and to penetrate the stubborn defence of the guests, led by a wonderful Shuli Gilardi in the net. The 34-years-old veteran of Herzliya made several fantastic saves up to the 73rd minute, when the double-pass of Rosso and Ulyanov resulted in the Russian's arched shot from 16 meters under the keeper's right crossbar; 8 minutes later, Rosso's free kick deflected from Yaacov Koretski's leg straight to Offer Talker, who managed to beat the diving Gilardi from 6 meters. Herzliya had 2 opportunities of its own, but the shots of Niederhaus were blocked by Najouan Grayib and Dudu Awwat, who finished 540 League minutes without conceding even a single goal.
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - HAPOEL PETAKH-TIKWA 1:2 (1:1). ------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Yossi Madar (15). | Smadja 6; Y. Alpiya 6, Fletcher 6, Siton 5, Y. Avihail 5; Liberman 5.5, | Ballas 5, Madar 6.5, Barkolin 4.5 (Y. Abuksis, 59 - 5), Y. Gordana 4.5 (S. | Mizrahi, 70); Refua 4.5 (S. Abuksis, 77). ******** Guests: Alon Maya (37), Moti Kakun (58). | Hess 6; Maya 6.5, Kolosevic 5.5, BENI KOZOSHVILI 7, I. Boaron 6; Stan 6.5, | Badir 6, Hassan 6 (Ben-Ishai, 80), Attar 5.5, Marton 5.5 (Abrabanel, 69); | Kakun 6 (Angelkovic, 86). ******** REFEREE: Nir Baabour (5). AUDIENCE: 3,000, Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa Stadium, Tel-Aviv. ********
An embarrassing mistake of the referee Nir Baabour enabled the 2 teams to start playing in the very similar uniforms; only after 3 minutes of a complete mess, did he stop the game and make the hosts change their outfit. Then, when a good pass of Yossi Alpiya found a flying volley of Yossi Madar with 75 minutes still to go, some fans of Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa's skipped a heartbeat. They didn't have to worry, as their team has a rare attacking treasure, Moti Kakun. 8 minutes before the break, he stopped trying to beat a good Shaul Smadja alone and slid a ball with his head to Alon Maya, whose header equalized the score. After the break, one of the most beautiful attacks of this year was performed, when a quick multimove of Stan - Badir - Stan - Kakun resulted in a cannon shot of the latter under the hosts' bar. Petakh-Tikwa doesn't give Hapoel Haifa a chance to run away, 2 weeks before their game.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 0:0. ---------------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | O. Cohen 5; I. Amar 5, Magamedov 5.5, S. Tsofin 5 (Bialla, 80), Partieli 5; | Lusek 6, G. Itzhak 4.5 (Shabo, 73), Idan Tal 5.5, Shemariyahu 6 (Petrosian, | 65); Prenga 4, Bransi 4. ******** Guests: -. | YANIV MIZRAHI 6.5; G. Deri 6, Y. Amar 6, Sebeg 6.5, Albert 6; Pitusi 6 | (Shemesh, 90), T. Eliyahu 5.5, E. Cohen 4.5 (O. Gabai, 56 - 5), Capeta 5 | (RED, 45); Kabudi 5, Rafi Cohen 5.5 (R. Ohana, 78). ******** REFEREE: Alon Yaffet (9). AUDIENCE: 1,000, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
Eyal Lakhman, the coach of Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa this season, wanted indeed to teach his former team something about Soccer, and so his team was attacking most of the time; however, the forwards were extremely dull, and Yaniv Mizrahi was once again the hero in the guests' net. Even after a redundant red card to Nissan Capeta, who spat on Rajid Bransi after the referee's whistle for a break, Rishon managed to seal its net. Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa begins to lose the momentum and the attractivity; Rishon still needs some foreigners to strengthen its line-up.
Beitar Jerusalem - HAPOEL TSAFRIRIM HOLON 1:2 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Istvan Hamar (33). | Korenfein 4.5; S. Levi 4.5, Shelakh 4 (Bakhar, 87), Domb 4, R. Deri 4 (E. | Mizrahi, 77); Talesnikov 4, Abuksis 4, Hamar 4, Salloi 4.5; T. Sandor 4, | O. Shitrit 4 (Eli Ohana, 60 - 4.5). ******** Guests: Oren Flash (47), Samson Siasiah (71). | Y. Melika 6; Fleeter 6, Fur 6, Sokher 7, Avigdor 6.5; B. Hadad 6 (D. | Kabeda, 64), OREN FLASH 7, Zaric 6, Shlomi Dahan 6, Daraselia 6 (Tsafrir, | 88); Siasiah 6.5 (Ben-Barukh, 77). ******** REFEREE: Dani Koren (9). AUDIENCE: 8,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
It might be the case that Beitar is indeed in a sort of crisis, as it lost its 2nd League game in a row. The mighty attacks of the defending Champions on the net of the substituting keeper Yaron Melika (who substituted the suddenly injured Alexander Zhidkov and wasn't bad at all) resulted in a series of misses and saves, and only one goal of Istvan Hamar after a corner kick. Holon, on the other hand, performed just 2 attacks and scored 2 magnificent goals. The equalizer came from Oren Flash, who took the ball 35 meters from the net, passed in a great slalom no less than 4 defenders, left Itzhak Korenfein on the ground and rolled the ball in. And 19 minutes from time, Georgi Daraselia (in his new Israeli team and quite a good performance, as well as another newcomer, Amir Avigdor) bounced a far-ranger into the box, Asi Domb failed to perform a back scissors kick to clear the ball away but made it go up, and Samson Siasiah bombed it from 10 meters in a half-scissors kick himself to the close corner of the dormant Korenfein.
HAPOEL KEFAR-SABA - Hapoel Jerusalem 2:0 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Adrian Ungur (43), Avigdor Itzhak (63). | Strauss 5.5; I. Koren 5.5, Catalyn 5.5, EHUD KAHILA 6.5, Shum 6; Ben-Haim | 5.5, Masterovic 5, A. Itzhak 5.5 (A. Sandor, 72), Anchavadze 5 (Shem-Tov, | 82); Avvargeal 6, Ungur 6 (Giannakh, 68). ******** Guests: -. | Strauber 6.5; S. Amar 5, S. Mihei 5, T. Azulai 4.5, S. Danino 5; Gola 5 (A. | Sason, 66), E. Avrahami 5, Shnorman 4.5 (Gili Levi, 46 - 5), Costelnik 4.5; | Menakhem 4.5 (Aharon, 58 - 4.5), Pacha 5. ******** REFEREE: Amihai Moses (8). AUDIENCE: 2,500, Ironi Stadium, Kefar-Saba. ********
It was really strange to see how the team of Yossi Mizrahi sucked after a victory over Maccabee Tel-Aviv a game before. Only Liran Strauber was his usual self with several very impressive saves, but he alone couldn't save the capital team. Adrian Ungur scored his 5th goal this season, 2 minutes before the break, with a header from 5 meters; 20 minutes later, it was the newcomer Avigdor Itzhak with a rebound after Strauber parried Masterovic's header.
Maccabee Tel-Aviv - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:1 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Alexei Kosolapov (5). | Uvarov 6.5; A. Offir 5.5, Emenalo 6, Balbul 6, Ben-Dayan 6; ALEXEI KOSOLAPOV | 6.5, Nimni 5, D. Revivo 5.5, Edri 5 (Glam, 74), O. Haim 5 (A. Brumer, 53 - | 5.5); Kubica 6. ******** Guests: Ron Nakhman (63). | Elimelekh 6; F. Halfon 5.5 (Yaron, 74), Gershon 6, S. Cohen 5, Avi Azulai 5 | (Tuama, 46 - 6), Ben-Ami 5.5; R. Nakhman 6, Rupenik 6, Tikwa 5.5; | Simerotic 5 (Balili, 37 - 5), Tubi 5. ******** REFEREE: Yaacov Ben-Hemo (7). AUDIENCE: 16,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan. ********
The new defenders of Maccabee, the former Nigerian International Michael Emenalo and the former Israeli International Marco Balbul, as well as Alexei Kosolapov who returned after an injury, gave Maccabee a better game than before; still, hadn't it been for Alexander Uvarov's (38.5 years old!) return to the net, Maccabee would've lost again. After an early goal of Kosolapov in a mixture of players, Hapoel attacked time ang again and saw "the good old Shura" in his best, the peak being a tremendous save from the hard shot of Pinney Balili (43) and an important double save with just 2 minutes to go. Only once was Uvarov beaten, by a former Maccabee player Ron Nakhman, who even then confessed to be Hapoel's fan - the great ball from 25 meters hit Kosolapov's leg and arched over the flying keeper's hands under his left crossbar. And still, Uvarov said that the goal was his fault. This is how the great men of sport behave, Guy Melamed of Maccabee Haifa - you had some great problems during the game with Ried, so be a man and admit it instead of self-praising.
HAPOEL BEIT-SHEAN - Maccabee Yaffa 2:1 (1:1). ----------------------------------------------- Hosts: Sergen Culakovic (45), Shimon Danan (47). | M. Cohen 5.5; A. Danan 6, Taib 6, Elkaslassi 5.5, Ganon 6; Hader 5.5, GALA | PANCHELADZE 6.5, S. Danan 6 (Roi Sagi, 78), Almog Hazan 5.5; Culakovic 6 | (Y. Biton, 89), M. Uzan 6 (Erez Azulai, 67). ******** Guests: Nidal Mahamid (20). | Zoidze 5.5; M. Sason 5 (Bukhari, 46 - 4.5), Hershlikovich 6, Rozolio 5 | (Afek, 46 - 5.5), Mahamid 5.5; Rabinovich 5.5, Heffer 5 (N. Cohen, 78), | Elmakeis 5.5, Zellard 5; S. Avitan 5.5, Valentinic 5. ******** REFEREE: Haim Yaacov (7). AUDIENCE: 1,800, Ironi Stadium, Beit-Shean. ********
In a very principal game between the 2 outsiders, Maccabee Yaffa surprisingly took the lead; the team's 2nd goal this year was again scored by Nidal Mahamid, and again with a free kick. However, Beit-Shean answered with 2 goals - first, it was a header of Sergen Culakovic just before the break, and shortly after the break, it was a close-ranger of Shimon Danan. Irakliy Zoidze isn't clean of fault for the 2nd goal, though this man is definitely not the problem of Yaffa, after making 2 or 3 superb saves.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Yaniv Mizrahi
(Hapoel Rishon le-Zion)
Alon Maya Nir Sokher Beni Kozoshvili Amir Avigdor
(Hap. Petakh-Tikwa) (Tsafririm Holon) (Hap. Petakh-Tikwa) (Tsafririm Holon)
Giovanni Rosso Gala Pancheladze Oren Flash Alexei Kosolapov
(Hapoel Haifa) (Hapoel Beit-Shean) (Tsafririm Holon) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Moti Kakun Samson Siasiah
(Hap. Petakh-Tikwa) (Tsafririm Holon)
Hapoel Tsafririm Holon - 4.
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa - 3.
Hapoel Haifa, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion,
Maccabee Tel-Aviv, Hapoel Beit-Shean - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 06 5 1 0 10- 0 16
2 (2) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 06 5 0 1 12- 4 15
3 (4) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 06 3 2 1 15- 6 11
4 (9) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 06 3 1 2 10- 6 10
5 (3) Beitar Jerusalem 06 3 1 2 12- 9 10
6 (10) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 06 3 1 2 11-10 10
7 (7) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 06 3 1 2 4- 4 10
8 (5) Hapoel Jerusalem 06 3 0 3 11- 9 9
9 (6) Maccabee Herzliya 06 3 0 3 7- 8 9
10 (8) Maccabee Haifa 05* 2 1 2 11- 7 7
11 (13) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 06 1 3 2 7-13 6
12 (11) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 06 1 2 3 9- 9 5
13 (12) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 05* 1 2 2 8-11 5
14 (14) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 06 1 2 3 10-14 5
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 06 1 1 4 4-15 4
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 06 0 0 6 2-18 0
* - missing game; will be played on 28/11/1998
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Oren Flash, midfielder, Hapoel Tsafririm Holon.
TOP SCORERS: Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 7(1) 1(0)
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Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 6(3)
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Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 5(0) 1(0)
Rajid Bransi (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 5(2)
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Yossi Madar (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 4(0) 1(0)
Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 4(0)
Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 4(3)
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Oren Flash (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 3(0) 1(0)
Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 3(0) 1(0)
Guy Itzhak (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 3(0)
Shlomi Danino (Hapoel Jerusalem) 3(0)
Victor Pacha (Hapoel Jerusalem) 3(0)
Lior Asulin (Maccabee Herzliya) 3(0)
Udi Kabudi (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 3(0)
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 |
| Maccabee Yaffa (16) | Hapoel Haifa (1) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (2) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) |
| Maccabee Haifa (10) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (3) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (4) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (13) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (9) | Beitar Jerusalem (5) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (7) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (6) |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (8) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (13) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (11) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (14) |
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