Beitar Jerusalem - Hapoel Haifa 1:1 (0:0). -------------------------------------------- Hosts: Nir Sevilla (76). | Korenfein 6; Shelakh 5.5, SERGEI TRETYAK 6.5, Domb 6, E. Mizrahi 5.5 (R. | Deri, 33 - 5.5); Bakhar 6, Talesnikov 6, Abuksis 6, M. Hageage 5.5 | (O. Shitrit, 46 - 6); Hamar 6, Sevilla 6. ******** Guests: Oren Nissim (48). | Awwat 6.5; Talker 5.5, Ben-Shimon 5.5, A. Halfon 6.5, Grayib 6.5; Zeituni | 6, Ulyanov 6, Rosso 6.5, Milenko 6; Basis 6 (H. Hageage, 87), Nissim 6 | (Ilan Tal, 76). ******** REFEREE: Dani Koren (6). AUDIENCE: 16,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
A careful game of both teams resulted in a justified draw, postponing Haifa's celebrations a bit, but giving the Reds an unforgettable opportunity to get the title at home, vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv; Beitar, on the other hand, will fight for the Cup and the 2nd place. Hapoel Haifa was clearly dominant in the 1st half, and 2 minutes before the break, Itzhak Korenfein made an excellent instinctive diving save, after a deflection from his own defender Asi Domb; but 2 minutes after the break, even he could do nothing against Rosso - Basis combination and Oren Nissim's powerful finishing header. Still, in that half Beitar played with Offer Shitrit instead of Mati Hageage, and it was meaningful. Dudu Awwat managed to perform a fine double save from the shots of Ilan Bakhar (53), before Shitrit found Sevilla with a flat stinging shot from inside the box (76), 1:1. Seconds before the end, Awwat flew like a cat to deflect a perfect free kick of Yossi Abuksis from under his crossbar, and on the other hand, Rosso's shot beat Korenfein, only to hit the keeper's right post. However, nothing seems to prevent Haifa from taking its first Championship, and the game served like a stick change in the relay - from one title holder to another one.
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Beit-Shean 3:1 (3:1). -------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Kefir Edri (3), Itzhak Zohar (22), Dedi Ben-Dayan (42). | Uvarov 5.5; A. Offir 5, G. Brumer 5, Balbul 5.5 (Ishai, 59 - 5), Ben-Dayan | 5.5; Kosolapov 5.5, Tsarfati 5 (Glam, 63), D. Revivo 5, Edri 5.5, I. Zohar | 5.5 (O. Haim, 78); Kubica 5.5. ******** Guests: Sergen Culakovic (6). | M. Cohen 5; A. Danan 4.5 (Tsuref, 46 - 5), Taib 5, Dudu Dahan 5.5, Sapir | 4.5; Almog Hazan 4.5, Hader 5, Rozosevic 5, Cinka 5 (Y. Biton, 85), M. Uzan | 5 (H. Irmiyahu, 63); Culakovic 5. ******** REFEREE: Lior Korenfeld (8). AUDIENCE: 3,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan. ********
The game meant a lot for both teams, and therefore, it was really strange to see such a boredom on the pitch. Kefir Edri scored a quick goal after a great personal effort, but 3 minutes afterwards, Marius Cinka completely fooled the Yellow defence and found Sergen Culakovic undisturbed in front of the nonchalant Uvarov. When it seemed for a moment that Beit-Shean may surprise and take the vital points giving it some hope, there came Itzhak Zohar with his 1st goal this season - and yes, you may guess, with a bright free kick from 28 meters. 3 minutes before the break, the story was over, as the same Zohar found with a side free kick a header of Dedi Ben-Dayan. Uvarov returned to be his usual self, making 2 terrific saves from the shots of Jamil Hader (28) and Haim Irmiyahu (71). The story of Beit-Shean in the League seems to be over after 5 respectful years, while Maccabee still fights to be a runner-up.
MACCABEE HAIFA - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:0 (0:0). --------------------------------------------- Hosts: Yossi Benayoun (77). | Davidovich 6.5; AVISHAI ZHANO 7, Benado 6.5, Sassi 6, A. Keisi 6; Koppel | 6.5, Calman 6 (Silbas, 88), Benayoun 6.5, Nagar (RED, 19), Doro 6 (Romatko, | 90); Pacha 5.5 (Katan, 41 - 6). ******** Guests: -. | Elimelekh 5.5; F. Halfon 5.5, Gershon 4.5, M. Ohayon 5 (Tikwa, 46 - 5.5), | Kahila 5, Ben-Ami 5 (Avi Azulai, 77); Marton 4, Rupenik 5 (Hillel, 55 - 5), | Idan Tal 4.5, Simerotic 5; Udi 4.5 (RED, 41). ******** REFEREE: Haim Lipkovich (8). AUDIENCE: 6,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
Finally, a taste of victory returned to Kiryat-Eliezer, and Haifa's fans deserved to taste it; where will you find another team in Israel, whose fans hold the grateful slogans in favor of the prematurely leaving coach? "Dusan Uhrin, we love you" placards expressed more than anything the gratitude for the best European season the Israeli team ever knew (and probably, will know in the future)... But back to the game, which started awfully, as Shuki Nagar was quickly sent off with 2 yellow cards; however, the 2nd Nagar's foul victim, Kefir Udi, was sent off himself with the 2nd booking, only 22 minutes later. Nir Davidovich, returning to Haifa's net despite his injury, could hardly stand at the end, but made his job and denied several opportunities of the Reds; on the other hand, the Greens looked much better and just couldn't score. The victory came 14 minutes from time, when Yaniv Katan penetrated at the right wing and found Yossi Benayoun near the penalty spot; Benayoun nearly lost the ball, but Shimon Gershon kindly lost it back, and Benayoun bombed it wholeheartedly past Elimelekh, 1:0.
Hapoel Kefar-Saba - Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 2:2 (2:1). ---------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Yaniv Avvargeal (11, 35). | Strauss 5; I. Koren 5, Ben-Haim 6, Netser 5, Ganon 5.5; R. Maman 5 (Shum, | 55 - 5), A. Itzhak 5, Shem-Tov 6, Niv Tal 5.5, Masterovic 5 (S. Danan, 80); | Avvargeal 6.5. ******** Guests: Yossi Rosen (39), Eli Abrabanel (48). | Hess 5.5; R. Amar 5, Kolosevic 5, Hermesh 5.5 (Badir, 46 - 5.5), Ben-Ishai | 5.5; Kozoshvili 5, Rosen 6, ELI ABRABANEL 6.5, Hassan 6; Komarnitskiy 5 | (Attar, 46 - 6), Kakun 5 (Makoveyev, 68). ******** REFEREE: Yosef Benishti (8). AUDIENCE: 2,500, Ironi Stadium, Kefar-Saba. ********
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, preparing for the Cup semifinal, started the game without several of its key players and was punished quickly - 10 minutes before the break, it had a 2-goal deficit, after 2 goal passes of Tomer Shem-Tov and 2 conversions of Yaniv Avvargeal. The young Yossi Rosen reduced the score with a good shot from 20 meters, and shortly after the break, Eli Abrabanel took care of equalizing. The referee Yosef Benishti led a scandalous game, disallowing 2 good goals of Petakh-Tikwa (by Abrabanel and Attar), disregarding a clear penalty earned by Moti Kakun and sending off Petakh-Tikwa's manager Giora Spiegel for a widely open mouth full of criticism.
HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 2:1 (0:1). ----------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Nissan Capeta (64), Moshe Sebeg (77). | Y. Mizrahi 5.5; G. Deri 5.5 (Rafi Cohen, 46 - 6), Rothem 6, T. Eliyahu 6, | Albert 6; A. Brumer 6, Sebeg 6.5, Pitusi 6.5 (YEHUDA AMAR, 87), Kabudi 5.5, | Capeta 6; Shikwa 5.5 (E. Cohen, 85). ******** Guests: Ephraim Tsafrir (25). | Pashko 6.5; Flash 5, Sokher 6, Khen 5.5, Avigdor 5; Zaric 5, Shlomi Dahan 5 | (Postacci, 70), B. Hadad 5, Daraselia 6, Siasiah 6; Tsafrir 5 (Buzaglo, | 85). ******** REFEREE: Dani Koren (8). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Superland Stadium, Rishon le-Zion. ********
Just another comeback victory of Rishon le-Zion, the 6th this season! And it looked so promising at the beginning for the guests, after Ephraim Tsafrir fooled several defenders and finished with a great flat curved shot, out of reach of the diving Yaniv Mizrahi. But from that moment on, Rishon le-Zion took a reign - and Martin Pashko, with several marvellous saves, frustrated the hosts time after time. However, twice they succeeded, and this was enough. First, Nissan Capeta headed his 10th goal this season after Nir Shikwa's preparation, and 13 minutes later, it was Moshe Sebeg's shot after Udi Kabudi's pass. Pay attention to "The Man Of The Game" - Yehuda Amar spent just 4 minutes on the field, but managed to deny a clear goal from the header of Nir Sokher. On the other end, Pashko made his only mistake of the game, but Shikwa managed to miss an empty frame from 5 meters, incredible.
BNEI-YEHUDA TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Jerusalem 2:0 (1:0). ---------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Hezi Shirazi (26), Cobi Refua (60). | Smadja 6; O. Levi 5.5, Siton 6, Feigenbaum 6, Y. Avihail 5.5; Liberman 6 | (S. Mizrahi, 55 - 5.5), EILON SCHWEGGER 6.5, Mararo 6, Madar 5.5 (Fibernik, | 65); Shirazi 6 (Galili, 80), Refua 6. ******** Guests: -. | Strauber 5; S. Danino 5.5, S. Mihei 5, A. Sason 5, Oka 5 (Yogev, 78); Gola | 5.5, Costelnik 5.5, Shnorman 5, Zeladzevic 5 (Setti, 64); M. Salman 6, | Aharon 4.5 (Valentinic, 64). ******** REFEREE: Yaacov Ben-Hemo (9). AUDIENCE: 2,500, Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa Stadium, Tel-Aviv. ********
A very important victory for Bnei-Yehuda, which gives it another gulp of air and drags Hapoel Jerusalem into the swamp. It started with a beautiful scissors kick of Hezi Shirazi to the far corner of Liran Strauber, and it went on with a personal effort of Cobi Refua, after an hour of play. Shaul Smadja, on the other hand, took care to leave his net clean, making a remarkable double save after the shots of Arik Sason and Joseph Costelnik (40).
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 0:1 (0:0). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: -. | Goresh 5; I. Amar 4.5, Magamedov 5, S. Tsofin 4.5, Ben-Yosef 4; Malihi 4 | (Mira, 68), E. Levi 4, Shemariyahu 5 (Bialla, 76) (R. Sharabi, 81), G. | Itzhak 4; Bransi 4, S. Avitan 4.5. ******** Guests: Haim Shabo (48). | Gilardi 6; E. Arbel 5.5, Barmecher 6, Y. Koretski 6, Mishal 6; A. Levi 6.5, | Gat 6, VASSILI IVANOV 6.5, Shabo 6 (L. Asulin, 71); Simhon 5.5 (Entebbi, | 86), Vilner 5 (Filipchuk, 46 - 5.5). ******** REFEREE: Amit Klein (8). AUDIENCE: 300, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
A very important victory for Herzliya, and Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa faces the danger too. The only goal in quite a boring game came 3 minutes after the break, when Roman Filipchuk's pass found the resultive Haim Shabo inside the box; it's only a pity Shabo ran to celebrate the goal with the indecent gestures towards Eyal Lakhman, Petakh-Tikwa's coach who released him to Herzliya several weeks ago. The only real chance of the hosts belonged to the defender Ismail Amar, whose free kick beat Gilardi (68), but hit the bar.
MACCABEE IRONI ASHDOD - Maccabee Yaffa 2:0 (1:0). --------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Sharon Martsiano (3), Tibor Balog (53). | Devadze 5.5; Hazut 6, Fibakh 5.5, Y. Malka 5, Spire 5; Almoshnino 5.5, | Martsiano 6 (Tobol, 76), TIBOR BALOG 6 (Sharabi, 88), Dego 6; Zrihen 4.5 | (Fadida, 70), Turgeman 4.5. ******** Guests: -. | Davidoff 5; Rishti 5, D. Levi 5, Rabinovich 5, M. Sason 5; Moyal 5, N. | Cohen 5.5, G. Hershlikovich 5, Djilovski 5; Afek 4, Bukhari 4 (Shakruka, | 75). ******** REFEREE: David Barak (7). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Yud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod. ********
Despite the prolonged stay under the red line, Ashdod can find many positive points in its victory, even over Maccabee Yaffa, and its new emergency manager Nissim Bakhar fully believes in the team's chances. The score was opened after just 3 minutes, as the returning to the opening squad Sharon Martsiano released a ball fueled with frustration and flying from 25 meters under the right crossbar of David Davidoff, "The Goal Of The Week". The 2nd goal was remarkable as well, as Tibor Balog got a corner kick from Gadi Hazut, raised it to leave his guard behind and released a volley to the close corner of Davidoff after turning around, 2:0.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
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Nir Davidovich
(Maccabee Haifa)
Avishai Zhano Sergei Tretyak Alon Halfon Najouan Grayib
(Maccabee Haifa) (Beitar Jerusalem) (Hapoel Haifa) (Hapoel Haifa)
Eli Abrabanel Vassili Ivanov Eilon Schwegger Moshe Sebeg
(H. Petakh-Tikwa) (Mcb. Herzliya) (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) (H. Rishon le-Zion)
Yossi Benayoun Yaniv Avvargeal
(Maccabee Haifa) (Hapoel Kefar-Saba)
Maccabee Haifa - 3.
Hapoel Haifa - 2.
Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa,
Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, Hapoel Kefar-Saba,
Maccabee Herzliya, Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 26 20 4 2 55-12 64
2 (3) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 26 17 3 6 64-26 54
3 (2) Beitar Jerusalem 26 16 5 5 59-25 53
4 (4) Maccabee Haifa 26 16 3 7 53-23 51
5 (5) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 26 13 7 6 40-24 46
6 (6) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 26 13 5 8 49-37 44
7 (11) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 26 9 6 11 44-55 33
8 (7) Hapoel Jerusalem 26 10 3 13 31-47 33
9 (8) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 26 9 6 11 37-54 33
10 (12) Maccabee Herzliya 26 9 4 13 28-35 31
11 (9) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 26 7 9 10 32-30 30
12 (10) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 26 8 6 12 36-40 30
13 (13) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 26 8 5 13 35-47 29
14 (14) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 26 7 7 12 33-44 28
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 26 5 3 18 24-70 18
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 26 1 4 21 12-63 7 Relegated
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Avishai Zhano, defender, Maccabee Haifa.
TOP SCORERS: Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 19(3)
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Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 17(4)
Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 17(4)
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Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 16(1)
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Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 15(7)
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Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 14(2)
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Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 13(0) 1(0)
Yossi Benayoun (Maccabee Haifa) 13(0) 1(0)
Cobi Refua (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 13(0) 1(0)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 13(6) 2(0)
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Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 12(0)
Victor Pacha (Maccabee Haifa) 12(0)
(9 goals in Hapoel Jerusalem)
Giovanni Rosso (Hapoel Haifa) 12(5)
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Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 10(0)
Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 10(0)
Assaf Tubi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 10(1)
Nissan Capeta (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 10(3) 1(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 |
| Hapoel Haifa (1) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (2) |
| Beitar Jerusalem (3) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (13) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (11) | Maccabee Haifa (4) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (5) | Hapoel Jerusalem (8) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (6) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (14) |
| Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (9) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (10) | Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (7) |
| Maccabee Yaffa (16) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (12) |
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