HAPOEL HAIFA - Hapoel Jerusalem 1:0 (1:0). -------------------------------------------- Hosts: Liron Basis (35). | Awwat 5.5; Talker 6, A. Halfon 5, Ben-Shimon 5.5, NAJOUAN GRAYIB 6.5; | Zeituni 6, Ulyanov 6.5, Milenko 5 (Ben-Margi, 60 - 4.5), Rosso 6, Basis 6 | (Hageage, 67); Nissim 4 (Jovic, 61). ******** Guests: -. | Strauber 6; Menakhem 5.5, S. Mihei 5, Hermon 5, Danino 5.5; A. Sason 5 (S. | Amar, 55 - 5.5), Shnorman 4 (M. Salman, 78), Gola 5.5 (Liani, 46 - 4.5), | Costelnik 5, Zeladzevic 5.5; Valentinic 6. ******** REFEREE: Alon Yaffet (8). AUDIENCE: 10,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
The leaders didn't play their usual game, but still enjoyed the draw between the two competitors and their own minimal victory - even playing badly, they were still better than the guests, and the top gap now is standing at 11 pts. Liran Strauber, fighting for the invitation into the National team, parried the bomb of Giovanni Rosso from 10 meters, and 9 minutes later saved in an incredible acrobatic flight the header of Ran Ben-Shimon from 4 meters; however, he was beaten just a minute afterwards, as Offer Talker penetrated into the box and gave a pass past the keeper to Liron Basis who didn't fail. The substitute Alexander Jovic had a great chance in front of an empty net, but Stephan Mihei cleared the ball from the line (66); on the opposite side, it was Oren Zeituni who knelt away the ball of the fresh substitute Mahmoud Salman, after the latter had left Dudu Awwat helpless on the ground. To beat the vastly improving Hapoel Tel-Aviv away, the leaders are to play much better.
Beitar Jerusalem - Maccabee Haifa 1:1 (1:0). ---------------------------------------------- Hosts: Offer Shitrit (35). | Korenfein 6; Bakhar 5, Shelakh 5.5, Domb 5.5, E. Mizrahi 6 (RED, 70); | Talesnikov 5.5, Abuksis 6, T. Sandor 5, Salloi 5 (Hamar, 70); O. Shitrit | 6.5, NIR SEVILLA 6.5. On the 58th minute Istvan Salloi missed a penalty - Nir Davidovich saved. ******** Guests: Adoram Keisi (70 pen). | Davidovich 6; Melamed 5 (RED, 58), A. Harazi 6, Sassi 5, A. Keisi 5.5; | Koppel 5 (Katan, 46 - 6), Brzeczek 6, Nagar 5.5, Romatko 5; Pacha 6 (R. | Harazi, 78), Benayoun 5.5 (Doro, 88). ******** REFEREE: Meir Levi (7). AUDIENCE: 15,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
When Guy Melamed, this sad excuse of a defender, caught Nir Sevilla inside the box and was sent off with a red card, causing a penalty kick, no saint seemed to come to help the guests on their way to the 3rd consecutive defeat. However, Shlomo Sherf got another proof that another keeper's "impeachment" from the National team may be untimely - the shot of Istvan Salloi was far from being perfect, but the credit should go to Nir Davidovich who dived well and parried the ball to a corner from his left corner. Altogether with an incredible self-sacrifice save from Offer Shitrit at one-to-one (40), those were the moments to leave Haifa in the game and eventually to bring it a welcomed point.
The similar event happened 12 minutes later, near the hosts' net - Adoram Keisi raised the ball into the box, Eitan Mizrahi and Victor Pacha were flying in the air, and Pacha tried to score with a handball. The referee Meir Levi rushed into the box with an amok run, and I, slightly missing the actual moment of controversy, was sure Pacha would be booked; however, the referee pointed decisively on the white spot, as Mizrahi seemed to pull his player. As a replay proved Levi's rightness and the players of both teams were dancing around the referee, Mizrahi was also sent off; Adoram Keisi, taking the responsibility on his shoulders, shot a mighty penalty, which Itzhak Korenfein narrowly missed, 1:1.
Despite its good 2nd half, Haifa was lucky to escape just another loss with the result that served the best its city counterpart from all points of view. The only decent opportunity of the Greens before the break belonged to Jerzy Brzeczek, whose shot was parried superbly by Korenfein, and on the other hand, Beitar was pressing time after time on Haifa's net. Tamas Sandor was booked for pretence instead of deserving a penalty kick, and a clever combination of Salloi - Sevilla - Shitrit gave the former Green forward another goal. In the 2nd half, those were the misses of Sandor (67) and Radovan Romatko (68), and Asi Domb's header hit the bar (78). The biggest miss, however, belonged to Yossi Benayoun who volleyed the ball to the right post of Korenfein after Pacha's good preparation; Benayoun himself was on the rebound, but only threatened several birds with a shot from 5 meters (64). Beitar can be disappointed with its 2nd draw in a row, and for Haifa it was important to stop the disastrous sequence of losses; let's hope for the better times for the Greens.
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 2:1 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Andrzej Kubica (43), Avi Nimni (77 pen). | Uvarov 6; A. Offir 5.5, Emenalo 5.5, Glam 5.5, DEDI BEN-DAYAN 6; Kosolapov | 5.5, Edri 5.5, Tsarfati 5 (Luz, 85), Nimni 5.5; Driks 5 (D. Revivo, 64), | Kubica 5.5. ******** Guests: Tomer Eliyahu (83). | Y. Mizrahi 6; G. Deri 5.5 (E. Cohen, 79), T. Eliyahu 6, Rothem 6, Albert | 5.5; Pitusi 5.5, A. Brumer 5.5, Markicevic 5, Kabudi 4.5 (Sebeg, 57 - 5.5); | Rafi Cohen 5, Capeta 4.5 (Shikwa, 71). ******** REFEREE: Eitan Tavrizi (6). AUDIENCE: 6,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan. ********
In a tough game where Maccabee wasn't its usual self, it still managed to defeat Hapoel Rishon le-Zion and to register the 5th victory in a row, making the guests fall under the red line. When Andrzej Kubica used another goal pass of Alon Offir to run away from the defence and to overplay Yaniv Mizrahi, the hopes were big; they became bigger, when Avi Nimni earned another penalty with his sweeping penetration and, unlike in the National team, converted it securely. However, Tomer Eliyahu's good reducer made the Yellow hearts skip a beat, and Rishon was just unlucky not to equalize with Rafi Cohen's shot. Anyway, the next game of Maccabee will be much harder, and Rishon may still recover vs Kefar-Saba.
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 1:1 (0:0). --------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Walid Badir (62). | Hess 5.5; Kozoshvili 4.5 (RED, 69), Kolosevic 5.5, Ihiel 5.5, Ben-Ishai | 4.5; Badir 5, Stan 4 (Maya, 46 - 5.5), Hassan 4.5, Attar 5 (Shamir, 67), | Makoveyev 5 (Komarnitskiy, 77); Kakun 5.5. ******** Guests: Beni Hadad (70). | Pashko 5.5; B. Hadad 5.5, Fur 5.5, Sokher 5.5, Flash 5.5; Khen 5.5, | Ben-Barukh 5.5, Zaric 5.5, Daraselia 5; Buzaglo 5 (D. Kabeda, 60 - 5), | Siasiah 5. ******** REFEREE: Assaf Keinan (5). AUDIENCE: 3,000, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
Nothing can be said about this game, except for the goals' descriptions and the fact that Petakh-Tikwa's manager Giora Spiegel left the pitch under the police protection. 17 minutes after the break, it was the second consecutive goal pass of Moti Kakun, this time to Walid Badir, who opened the score from 5 meters; however, the score didn't survive for long. Beni Kozoshvili was sent off with his 2nd yellow card 8 minutes later, after a foul on Oren Flash, and a free kick has been awarded - Georgi Daraselia raised the ball into the box, and Beni Hadad headed the ball to his left corner, out of the diving Shai Hess' reach.
Hapoel Beit-Shean - HAPOEL TEL-AVIV 1:3 (0:2). ------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Sergen Culakovic (88). | M. Cohen 5; A. Danan 5 (H. Irmiyahu, 58 - 5), Dudu Dahan 5.5, Elkaslassi 5, | Sapir 5.5; Pancheladze 6, Gili Levi 5.5 (Caplan, 58 - 5), Tsuref 5, | Rozosevic 5, M. Uzan 6; Culakovic 5.5. ******** Guests: Assaf Tubi (15), Shalom Tikwa (38), Salim Tuama (68). | SHAVIT ELIMELEKH 7; F. Halfon 6.5, Gershon 5.5, Kahila 5, Hillel 5; Rupenik | 6.5, Idan Tal 7, Marton 5.5, Tikwa 6 (Z. Kabeda, 75); Udi 5 (Simerotic, | 46 - 5), Tubi 6 (Tuama, 68). ******** REFEREE: Haim Yaacov (7). AUDIENCE: 3,500, Ironi Stadium, Beit-Shean. ********
Shavit Elimelekh, after his return to Hapoel Tel-Aviv's net, was just extraordinary and made several good saves, but for me, the story was Idan Tal, as the country didn't know such a goal passer since Eyal Berkovich. 15 minutes in the game, Assaf Tubi opened the score after Tal's corner and Shimon Gershon's touch, and 23 minutes later, a magnificent penetration of Tal at the right wing and a fantastic pass made Shalom Tikwa enter the box and overplay Meir Cohen with the charming touch of his own, 2:0. 23 minutes after the break, the substitute Salim Tuama used another touch of Tal to roll the ball home from 20 meters, 3:0. Beit-Shean managed only to reduce the score in the garbage time, when Elimelekh could only parry the bomb of Gala Pancheladze to the post, and Sergen Culakovic was there on the rebound. Culakovic seized his head, to remind the Red fans of his gesture in the controversial game of the last year vs Beitar Jerusalem, but the Red revenge was quite satisfying anyway for those fans; as for the hosts, only gestures surely won't save the team from relegation.
HAPOEL KEFAR-SABA - Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 3:2 (0:1). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Adrian Ungur (61, 73), Mario Masterovic (71). | Rosenberg 5.5; Shem-Tov 5.5, Catalyn 4.5, Netser 6, I. Koren 5; Ben-Haim 5 | (R. Glam, 52 - 5), Masterovic 5, S. Danan 4.5 (A. Itzhak, 48 - 5), Niv Tal | 5; Avvargeal 4.5 (Chichian, 60 - 5.5), ADRIAN UNGUR 7. ******** Guests: Guy Itzhak (45), Rajid Bransi (48 pen). | O. Cohen 5; Muslem 5 (R. Sharabi, 80), Magamedov 5, S. Tsofin 5, Partieli | 4.5; I. Amar 5.5, Lusek 5 (Bialla, 86), Petrosian 4.5 (Malihi, 65), G. | Itzhak 6; Bransi 6, S. Avitan 5. ******** REFEREE: David Barak (8). AUDIENCE: 1,500, Ironi Stadium, Kefar-Saba. ********
It was a strange game, with Kefar-Saba rebirthing to life very-very suddenly in quite a lost situation. It conceded the goal during the critical minute before the break, after the long-ranged pass of Ismail Amar to Guy Itzhak; only 3 minutes in the 2nd half, Ami Rosenberg kicked Sharon Avitan down in his box after a dreadful mistake of the defender Nicholas Catalyn, and then couldn't stop the coolly converted penalty of Rajid Bransi. And then the miracle started... Half an hour from time, the same Ismail Amar tried to return the ball to his keeper, but the ball hit the bar, and Adrian Ungur came on the rebound to reduce the score, 1:2. 10 minutes later, a great free kick of Mario Masterovic after a foul on Niv Tal equalized the score, and Petakh-Tikwa was broken, conceding yet another goal in another 2 minutes. Masterovic gave the ball to Ungur, and the Romanian forward, our "Player Of The Week", entered the box, passed Sharon Tsofin and, losing his balance and falling on his knee, somehow managed to produce a perfect arched shot from 14 meters under the left crossbar of a miserable Ohad Cohen, 3:2.
BNEI-YEHUDA TEL-AVIV - Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 1:0 (1:0). --------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Cobi Refua (60). | SHAUL SMADJA 6.5; O. Levi 6, Y. Abuksis 6, Schwegger 6, Y. Avihail 6; | Fibernik 5, Liberman 5 (Barkolin, 85), Mararo 5 (Ballas, 77), Madar 5.5; | Shirazi 6, Refua 6 (Galili, 84). ******** Guests: -. | Zelig 5.5; Hazut 6, Masouli 5, Y. Azulai 4.5 (Y. Offir, 65 - 5), Tobol 5; | Balog 5.5, Almoshnino 5.5, A. Sharabi 5 (Martsiano, 84), Dego 6; Zrihen 5 | (Fadida, 65 - 6), Turgeman 5.5. ******** REFEREE: Nir Baabour (8). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa Stadium, Tel-Aviv. ********
The game wasn't very interesting, but both teams had their good opportunities, usually stopped by the good keepers - and the best one belonged to Amir Turgeman, who penetrated into the box of the hosts (42), but was stopped superbly by Shaul Smadja in one-to-one. The only goal was scored after one hour of play, when Cobi Refua managed finally to beat Shimon Zelig (Akakiy Devadze was injured) from 5 meters, after a free kick performed by Yossi Madar from the right wing. Ashdod, the ultimate threat of the big shots, suddenly is in the angerous zone, and Bnei-Yehuda isn't fully out of trouble yet.
Maccabee Yaffa - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 1:2 (1:1). ----------------------------------------------- Hosts: Nidal Mahamid (43). | Zoidze 5; Vaaknin 5, Dan Levi 5.5, U. Ohayon 5.5, Moyal 5.5, Abu-Kishak 6; | Mahamid 5, G. Hershlikovich 6, Elmakeis 5; Afek 5, Djilovski 5 (G. Nakhman, | 59 - 5). ******** Guests: Oleg Naduda (35), Lior Asulin (84). | Gilardi 5; Mishal 5, Ivanov 6, Y. Koretski 5 (Asulin, 80), Entebbi 5.5; Gat | 6, A. Levi 5, Shabo 5 (Mchitarian, 29 - 5.5), OLEG NADUDA 6.5; Simhon 5.5, | Vilner 5 (Filipchuk, 55 - 5.5). ******** REFEREE: Amihai Moses (4). AUDIENCE: 500, Gaon Stadium, Yaffa. ********
Maccabee Herzliya, still unbeaten in the era of Shiya Feigenbaum as its coach, registered yesterday its 2nd consecutive victory, vs Maccabee Yaffa. Oleg Naduda opened the score, after a combination of Vassili Ivanov and Yair Simhon and with a help of deflection from Dan Levi; however, a hesitant jump of Shuli Gilardi let Uzi Ohayon prepare a goal to Nidal Mahamid after a corner kick, shortly before the break. Roman Filipchuk, who returned to Herzliya on the expense of Vladimir Niederhaus, made a goal pass to Lior Asulin, the fresh substitute who scored a winner with a volley, 6 minutes from time. In the current state of Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, Herzliya may win the next game as well.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Shavit Elimelekh
(Hapoel Tel-Aviv)
Felix Halfon Yossi Abuksis Eilon Schwegger Najouan Grayib
(Hap. Tel-Aviv) (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) (Hapoel Haifa)
Oleg Naduda Davor Rupenik Idan Tal Dmitriy Ulyanov
(Maccabee Herzliya) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Hapoel Haifa)
Adrian Ungur Nir Sevilla
(Hapoel Kefar-Saba) (Beitar Jerusalem)
Hapoel Tel-Aviv - 4.
Hapoel Haifa, Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - 2.
Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Kefar-Saba, Maccabee Herzliya - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 18 15 2 1 38- 6 47
2 (2) Beitar Jerusalem 18 11 3 4 47-22 36
3 (4) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 18 11 3 4 44-19 36
4 (3) Maccabee Haifa 18 11 3 4 38-15 36
5 (5) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 18 10 2 6 34-24 32
6 (6) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 18 9 5 4 29-19 32
7 (7) Hapoel Jerusalem 18 8 2 8 26-30 26
8 (8) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 18 6 7 5 24-15 25
9 (9) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 18 6 5 7 29-28 23
10 (10) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 18 5 6 7 26-32 21
11 (11) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 18 6 3 9 24-42 21
12 (13) Maccabee Herzliya 18 5 3 10 19-28 18
13 (14) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 18 5 3 10 24-38 18
14 (12) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 18 4 5 9 27-41 17
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 18 3 2 13 16-53 11
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 18 1 2 15 10-43 5
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Adrian Ungur, forward, Hapoel Kefar-Saba.
TOP SCORERS: Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 16(1) 1(0)
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Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 14(1)
Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 14(2)
Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 14(6)
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Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 13(3) 1(0)
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Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 11(4) 1(1)
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Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 9(0) 2(0)
Cobi Refua (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 9(0) 1(0)
Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 9(0)
Victor Pacha (Maccabee Haifa) 9(0)
(9 goals in Hapoel Jerusalem)
Giovanni Rosso (Hapoel Haifa) 9(3)
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Yossi Benayoun (Maccabee Haifa) 8(0)
Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 8(0)
Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 8(0)
Rajid Bransi (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 8(3) 1(1)
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Assaf Tubi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 7(0) 1(0)
Udi Kabudi (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 7(0)
Sebastian Simerotic (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 7(4)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 7(4)
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 Tel-Aviv (6) | Hapoel Haifa (1) |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (7) | Beitar Jerusalem (2) |
| Maccabee Haifa (4) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (3) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (12) | Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (5) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (8) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) |
| Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (9) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (10) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (14) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (11) |
| Maccabee Yaffa (16) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (13) |
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