HAPOEL HAIFA - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 3:1 (1:0). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Giovanni Rosso (6), Ilan Tal (72), Alexander Jovic (74). | Awwat 6; Talker 6.5, A. Halfon 5.5, Ami Azulai 6, Grayib 5.5; Zeituni 6, | Ben-Margi 5.5, GORAN MILENKO 6.5 (Hageage, 75), Rosso 6, Basis 6 (Ilan Tal, | 63 - 6); Nissim 5.5 (Jovic, 55 - 6). ******** Guests: Georgi Daraselia (85). | Pashko 5.5; Fleeter 5, Fur 6, Sokher 5, B. Hadad 6; Buzaglo 5.5 (Zaric, | 46 - 5), Khen 5.5, Shlomi Dahan 5 (Ben-Barukh, 85), Flash 5 (Tsafrir, 88), | Daraselia 6; Siasiah 5. ******** REFEREE: Eyal Tsur (8). AUDIENCE: 11,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
The hopes of Holon to achieve a good result vs the leaders were shattered after just 6 minutes, when Goran Milenko used a bad clearing header of Nir Sokher and rolled the ball to Giovanni Rosso, who bombed it home flatly from 19 meters and scored his first double-digit goal this season. Hapoel Haifa wasn't very impressive, and the 2 next best opportunities were of Holon - a flying header of Samson Siasiah going wide (39), and a double save of Dudu Awwat from Siasiah and Beni Hadad (57). The substitutes Alexander Jovic and Ilan Tal refreshed the game of the leaders and also caused the 2 goals to be scored - Ilan Tal was on the rebound after a great double save of Martin Pashko from Giovanni Rosso and Goran Milenko, when the guests' defence abandoned the keeper and watched the developments with a certain indifferent interest, and 2 minutes later, Nir Sokher's save from the line after Tal's shot was continued by Jovic to make it 3:0. Holon still managed to score and to cut Haifa's dry 538 League minutes (!) - and it was Georgi Daraselia with a tremendous solo effort and a curved shot from 16 meters to the left low corner of Dudu Awwat; this goal was deservedly awarded "The Goal Of The Week" tag, although Awwat could've prevented it, being a bit more concentrated.
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Jerusalem 4:0 (2:0). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Andrzej Kubica (21, 77), Avi Nimni (44, 57). | Uvarov 6; G. Brumer 6, Emenalo 6.5, Balbul 6, Ben-Dayan 6; A. Offir 6, | Kosolapov 6, Luz 6 (Driks, 82), Edri 7, AVI NIMNI 7 (Tsarfati, 78); Kubica 7 | (O. Haim, 85). ******** Guests: -. | Strauber 6; S. Amar 4.5, S. Mihei 4.5, A. Sason 4.5, T. Azulai 4.5, M. | Salman 5; Y. Avrahami 4.5 (Yogev, 71), E. Avrahami 4 (Liani, 63), Costelnik | 4.5 (Setti, 46 - 4.5), Zeladzevic 5; Aharon 4. ******** REFEREE: David Barak (8). AUDIENCE: 6,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan. ********
Closing the circle of humiliation, Maccabee Tel-Aviv devastated Hapoel Jerusalem at home; to remind you, it happened with a squad that started running after a sudden loss in Round 1 to ... Hapoel Jerusalem. The guests without Victor Pacha are definitely not the same, and the hosts flourish, especially with Avi Nimni and Andrzej Kubica. Yesterday the Polish forward scored twice, from a far-ranged goal pass of Michael Emenalo and an offside goal pass of Avi Nimni, and Nimni himself added 2 more goals, from the pass of Kosolapov and a rebound after a shot of Kefir Edri. The chances of Liran Strauber to get an invitation to the National team became slimmer, although he personally wasn't to blame that much for any of the goals.
Beitar Jerusalem - HAPOEL TEL-AVIV 0:1 (0:0). ----------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | Korenfein 6; Bakhar 4.5, Domb 5, Shelakh 4.5, E. Mizrahi 6; Abuksis 5 | (Yaacobi, 77), Talesnikov 4.5, T. Sandor 5, Hamar 4.5; Sevilla 4.5, O. | Shitrit 4.5. ******** Guests: Idan Tal (66). | Elimelekh 6; F. Halfon 6.5, Gershon 5.5, Israel Cohen 5.5 (M. Ohayon, 24 - | 5.5), Ben-Ami 6.5, Hillel 6; Avi Azulai 6, Idan Tal 7, Marton 6 (S. Cohen, | 78), SEBASTIAN SIMEROTIC 7; Tubi 5.5 (Udi, 84). ******** REFEREE: Yaacov Ben-Hemo (8). AUDIENCE: 16,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
A great game of Hapoel Tel-Aviv made even the fans of its biggest rival, Maccabee Tel-Aviv, applaud - after all, it helped their own team to get the 2nd position in the table. Beitar Jerusalem, playing in its fortress called Teddy, was somehow very weak and failed to produce any serious threats to the goal of Shavit Elimelekh; on the other hand, Hapoel was attacking the goal of Itzhak Korenfein time after time. Korenfein, who was very good and frustrated Hapoel's forwards time and again, especially Sebastian Simerotic, made still one crucial mistake that finally cost his team the points - a far-ranger of Gabor Marton deflected from his chest, and Idan Tal was on the rebound, bombing a killer from 16 meters under Beitar's bar, "The Surprise Of The Week".
Hapoel Kefar-Saba - MACCABEE HAIFA 1:4 (1:2). [27/02/1999] ----------------------------------------------- Hosts: Shimon Danan (31). | Rosenberg 4.5; I. Koren 5 (Giannakh, 85), Catalyn 5.5, Netser 4.5, Ganon | 5.5; Ben-Haim 5 (Chichian, 51 - 5), Shem-Tov 5 (A. Sandor, 65), Masterovic | 6, S. Danan 5.5; Avvargeal 4.5, Ungur 6. ******** Guests: Victor Pacha (40, 74), Yossi Benayoun (45), Shuki Nagar (89). | Davidovich 5; Zhano 6, A. Harazi 5.5, Benado 5.5, A. Keisi 5; Melamed 5.5, | Nagar 5.5, Brzeczek 5 (Katan, 78), YOSSI BENAYOUN 6.5 (Silbas, 84); R. Harazi | 5.5 (Doro, 68), Pacha 6.5. ******** REFEREE: Assaf Keinan (8). AUDIENCE: 5,000, Ironi Stadium, Kefar-Saba. ********
6 days before the crucial game vs Lokomotiv in Moscow, in the historic Quarterfinal of the last Cup Winners' Cup, Maccabee Haifa still didn't look its usual self, but at least was morally convincing to take all the points with an impressive margin. It looked different after 31 minutes of play, when Shimon Danan released a great free kick from 23 meters, which Nir Davidovich could parry only to his bar and in, 0:1. However, shortly before the break the headers of Victor Pacha, who finally started scoring in his new team, and of Yossi Benayoun (after the preparations respectively of Benayoun and Jerzy Brzeczek) made the story different. Despite Kefar-Saba's attacks just after the break, Haifa was more dangerous, and the killing header of Pacha after the pass of Adoram Keisi (74) finished the game. The last effort was of Shuki Nagar, who passed 2 defenders and a keeper in a wonderful solo and scored the 2nd goal in his career, 4:1.
HAPOEL PETAKH-TIKWA - Maccabee Yaffa 3:0 (1:0). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Moti Kakun (13), Igor Makoveyev (80, 82). | Hess 6; Maya 4.5, Kolosevic 5, Ihiel 5, I. Boaron 5; Kozoshvili 6, | Abrabanel 4.5 (Shamir, 46 - 5), Badir 5, Hassan 4.5 (Attar, 74), Ben-Ishai | 5 (Makoveyev, 57 - 6); MOTI KAKUN 6. ******** Guests: -. | Zoidze 5.5; Sayag 4 (M. Sason, 74), Dan Levi 4.5, Rabinovich 4.5, Moyal 5, | Abu-Kishak 5.5; Hershlikovich 5, U. Ohayon 5.5, Afek 5.5, Djilovski 4.5 (N. | Cohen, 65); Shakruka 4.5 (Bukhari, 63). ******** REFEREE: Alon Yaffet (8). AUDIENCE: 3,000, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
Even after a quick goal of Moti Kakun, prepared with a great goal pass of Walid Badir, it was not fully clear which team was hopelessly stuck in the relegation zone and which one had the illusions to reach the European Cups this season. Maccabee Yaffa was playing a game far better than its usual, and sometimes it even seemed the team could score. However, during the last 10 minutes, it was a young substitute Igor Makoveyev, the Ukrainean Olympic forward, who scored twice from a close range and left the outsiders no chances. As for the hosts, however, it's still not the best the team can produce.
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - MACCABEE PETAKH-TIKWA 0:2 (0:0). --------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | Smadja 6; Ballas 4.5, Fletcher 4.5, Siton 5, Y. Avihail 4.5; Schwegger 5, | Fibernik 4.5 (Mararo, 72), S. Mizrahi 4.5 (RED, 63), Madar 5, Refua 5 | (Galili, 87); Shirazi 5. ******** Guests: Erez Bialla (80), Ismail Amar (89 pen). | O. Cohen 5.5; I. Amar 5.5, MORAD MAGAMEDOV 6, S. Tsofin 5.5, Ben-Yosef 5.5, | Partieli 5.5; Malihi 4.5, G. Itzhak 5, Muslem 6, Shemariyahu 6 (S. Avitan, | 65); R. Sharabi 5 (Bialla, 75). ******** REFEREE: Haim Yaacov (6). AUDIENCE: 2,500, Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa Stadium, Tel-Aviv. ********
The better game of Bnei-Yehuda in this crucial game of the bottom teams was completely ruined after a redundant red card earned by Sahar Mizrahi, his 3rd one this season (!). Petakh-Tikwa exploited its numeric advantage fully to register an important away victory, during the last 10 minutes of play. First, the substitute Erez Bialla rolled the ball home after a failed save of Shaul Smadja from the flat far-ranger of Ismail Amar; and just before the final whistle, it was Ismail Amar himself with a converted penalty, after a foul of Eilon Schwegger on Sharon Avitan inside the box.
Maccabee Ironi Ashdod - HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION 0:3 (0:1). ---------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | Zelig 6; Hazut 5 (RED, 30), Masouli 4.5, Y. Malka 5, Tobol 4; Almoshnino 5, | A. Sharabi 4.5 (Y. Offir, 75), Naveda 4 (Spire, 55 - 4), Fadida 4 | (Martsiano, 65), Zrihen 5.5; Turgeman 4.5. ******** Guests: Udi Kabudi (30 pen), Rafi Cohen (49), Golan Deri (60). | Y. Mizrahi 6; G. Deri 6.5 (Y. Amar, 79), Rothem 6, T. Eliyahu 6, Albert 6; | Pitusi 6 (Shikwa, 76), ALON BRUMER 6.5, Markicevic 6, Sebeg 6; Kabudi 6.5, | Rafi Cohen 6.5 (Capeta, 75). ******** REFEREE: Amit Klein (8). AUDIENCE: 2,500, Yud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod. ********
Another very surprising result, recalling the strength of Ashdod at home vs every single Israeli team; however, when it loses there, like to Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa this season, it seems to be big, very big... Rishon opened the score after 30 minutes of play, when Tomer Eliyahu's header beat the good keeper Shimon Zelig and found the handplay of Gadi Hazut; the defender was sent off, and the penalty was converted by Udi Kabudi. Shortly after the break, a goal pass of Nenad Markicevic found a great header of Rafi Cohen to the far post of Ashdod and in; 11 minutes later, it was the flat shot of the defender Golan Deri, after a goal pass of Udi Kabudi. Despite the 2 consecutive victories, Rishon still shouldn't be very confident of its survival in the Premier League.
Hapoel Beit-Shean - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 0:1 (0:0). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | M. Cohen 5; Sapir 5, Taib 5, Dudu Dahan 5, Tsuref 4; Hader 5 (Gili Levi, | 46 - 4), Cinka 5, Pancheladze 5 (H. Irmiyahu, 76), Rozosevic 5.5, M. Uzan | 5.5; Culakovic 4. ******** Guests: Oleg Naduda (57). | SHULI GILARDI 6; A. Levi 5 (E. Arbel, 70), Barmecher 4.5, Y. Koretski 5, | Mishal 4.5, Entebbi 6; Gat 4.5, Ivanov 4.5, Naduda 5, L. Asulin 5; | Filipchuk 4 (Simhon, 50) (Zanetti, 76). ******** REFEREE: Arik Haimovich (5). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Ironi Stadium, Beit-Shean. ********
In the game which was crucial to both teams and in which Beit-Shean desperately needed a victory, it turned out the other way round - the veteran Shuli Gilardi made several great saves in the guests' net, and they won the game in the only decent counterattack performed throughout the match. Oleg Naduda got the ball near the midcircle and started rushing forward through the center, until he released a good shot from 16 meters; it was also a fault of Meir Cohen, who flew well but slipped the ball into his net.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Shuli Gilardi
(Maccabee Herzliya)
Offer Talker Michael Emenalo Morad Magamedov Eyal Ben-Ami
(Hapoel Haifa) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv)
Alon Brumer Idan Tal Avi Nimni Kefir Edri
(H. Rishon le-Zion) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Andrzej Kubica Sebastian Simerotic
(Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Hapoel Tel-Aviv)
Maccabee Tel-Aviv - 4.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv - 3.
Hapoel Haifa, Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa,
Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, Maccabee Herzliya - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 20 16 3 1 41- 7 51
2 (3) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 20 13 3 4 50-20 42
3 (2) Beitar Jerusalem 20 12 3 5 50-23 39
4 (4) Maccabee Haifa 20 12 3 5 43-18 39
5 (5) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 20 11 3 6 39-26 36
6 (6) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 20 10 6 4 30-19 36
7 (10) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 20 7 5 8 31-29 26
8 (7) Hapoel Jerusalem 20 8 2 10 26-37 26
9 (8) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 20 6 7 7 25-19 25
10 (9) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 20 6 6 8 27-35 24
11 (13) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 20 6 5 9 32-42 23
12 (14) Maccabee Herzliya 20 6 4 10 22-30 22
13 (11) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 20 6 3 11 27-40 21
14 (12) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 20 6 3 11 26-48 21
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 20 4 2 14 17-54 14
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 20 1 2 17 10-49 5
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Sebastian Simerotic, forward, Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
TOP SCORERS: Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 16(1) 1(0)
Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 16(1)
Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 16(3) 2(0)
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Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 14(2)
Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 14(4) 2(0)
Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 14(6)
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Victor Pacha (Maccabee Haifa) 11(0) 2(0)
(9 goals in Hapoel Jerusalem)
Cobi Refua (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 11(0)
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Yossi Benayoun (Maccabee Haifa) 10(0) 1(0)
Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 10(0)
Giovanni Rosso (Hapoel Haifa) 10(3) 1(0)
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Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 9(0) 1(0)
Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 9(0)
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Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 8(0)
Udi Kabudi (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 8(1) 1(1)
Rajid Bransi (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 8(3)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 8(5)
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 Herzliya (12) | Hapoel Haifa (2) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (6) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (2) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (9) | Beitar Jerusalem (3) |
| Maccabee Haifa (4) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (10) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (5) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (13) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (11) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (7) |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (8) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (14) |
| Maccabee Yaffa (16) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) |
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