HAPOEL KEFAR-SABA - Hapoel Haifa 7:3 (5:2).
---------------------------------------------
Hosts: Yaniv Avvargeal (13, 30, 45, 84), Niv Tal (21, 59),
Mario Masterovic (36).
| Strauss 5.5; I. Koren 5.5 (I. Haim, 55 - 5), Ben-Haim 6.5, Netser 6, Ganon
| 5.5 (RED, 47); A. Itzhak 7, Shem-Tov 6, Masterovic 6, Ungur 5.5 (A. Sandor,
| 82); Niv Tal 7.5, YANIV AVVARGEAL 8.5 (S. Danan, 86).
********
Guests: Ran Ben-Shimon (15), Oren Nissim (19), Ilan Tal (81).
| Perets 5; Aziz 4, Ben-Shimon 4.5, Ami Azulai 4 (C. Danino, 68), Hageage 4
| (Tertetski, 46 - 5); Talker 4, Jovic 5 (Ilan Tal, 46 - 5), Ben-Margi 4.5,
| Rosso 4; Basis 4.5, Nissim 5.5.
********
REFEREE: David Barak (6).
AUDIENCE: 4,000, Ironi Stadium, Kefar-Saba.
********
An awful performance of the fresh Champions or the great show of the hosts who still had to promise their place in the Premier League? Probably, both of those. Drunk with success and euphory, the Reds were playing without 6 of its key players (!), and this can explain their bad skill, but in no way the final result. On the other hand, Yaniv Avvargeal was playing the game of his life, as well as Niv Tal.
The score was quickly opened, after Niv Tal's pass and Avvargeal's penetration into the box, but Haifa answered twice - first, with a free kick of Ran Ben-Shimon, and then, with a rebound of Oren Nissim, after Sagi Strauss failed to hold tight the 40-meters-ranger of Ami Azulai. And yet, Kefar-Saba returned into the game, with a mighty close-ranger of Niv Tal under Avi Perets' right crossbar. 30 minutes in the game, Itai Koren sent Avvargeal into a clear offside, but the referee oversaw it, and the forward went on scoring; before the break, Kefar-Saba scored twice more, after a fantastic free kick of Mario Masterovic from the left wing and a brilliant curved shot of the same Avvargeal from 18 meters. Even the red card shown to Cobi Ganon, for a disgusting foul on Oren Nissim, right after the break, didn't change the balance - it was the turn of Avvargeal to assist Niv Tal, who rolled the ball under the stomach of Avi Perets from a hard angle. Until the end the teams exchanged one more goal, of Ilan Tal and ... yes, you are correct in your guess, Yaniv Avvargeal.
I would've been harsher in my words about Haifa's moral qualities, but today I got to know that Bayern Munich lost glorilessly too, a week after winning the German Bundesliga title. So, let's see it as the pressure release, and wait for Haifa's comeback the next week, vs Maccabee Ironi Ashdod.
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Beitar Jerusalem 4:2 (1:1).
-------------------------------------------------
Hosts: Andrzej Kubica (31), Alon Offir (75), Dedi Ben-Dayan (79),
Itzhak Zohar (88).
| Uvarov 5.5; G. Brumer 6, Emenalo 6, Balbul 5 (Luz, 25 - 5.5), Ben-Dayan 6.5;
| A. Offir 7, Kosolapov 6, Tsarfati 7 (I. Zohar, 85), D. Revivo 6; ANDRZEJ
| KUBICA 8 (Driks, 90), O. Haim 5.5.
********
Guests: Nir Sevilla (16), Yossi Abuksis (60).
| Korenfein 5.5; Shelakh 5, Tretyak 5.5, Domb 4.5, R. Deri 5.5 (Salloi, 71);
| Talesnikov 5.5, Abuksis 6, T. Sandor 5.5, Hamar 5.5; Bakhar 4.5, Sevilla 6
| (O. Shitrit, 62).
********
REFEREE: Eyal Tsur (7).
AUDIENCE: 15,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan.
********
A huge step forward for Maccabee Tel-Aviv to win the 2nd place, after the team of Avraham Grant has passed the hardest of the 3 games left; Beitar will have now to win the Cup on Wednesday in order to see the European Cups in the start of the next millennium. It started differently, when Nir Sevilla headed the pass of Istvan Hamar undisturbed; even a free kick of Guy Tsarfati, falling on the head of Dedi Ben-Dayan and from there to the leg of Andrzej Kubica, didn't spoil Beitar's mood - Maccabee was more active, but Itzhak Korenfein was at his best. 15 minutes after the break, a clear penalty kick deserved by Andrzej Kubica was overlooked by the referee Eyal Tsur, and Beitar performed a quick counterattack and earned a free kick, after a foul on Jean Talesnikov; Yossi Abuksis used the deflection from the wall to give Beitar an advantage again. But Beitar's defence was clearly bad this time, especially in everything concerning the standard situations; 15 minutes from time, a free kick of Guy Tsarfati found Alon Offir's unmarked header, and 4 minutes later on, Dedi Ben-Dayan copied this, after a corner of the same Tsarfati. Beitar desperately tried to equalize, but conceded just another goal - Kubica raised a clever ball into the box, and the fresh substitute Itzhak Zohar shot it into the bar and past the line, 4:2. The struggle with Maccabee Haifa for the 2nd place will probably go until the very end, but the Yellows have a better goal difference.
MACCABEE HAIFA - Maccabee Herzliya 3:0 (1:0). ----------------------------------------------- Hosts: Yossi Benayoun (44), Victor Pacha (53), Alon Harazi (88). | Davidovich 6.5; Zhano 6, A. Harazi 6.5, Sassi 6, A. Keisi 6; OFFIR KOPPEL 7 | (Melamed, 76), Brzeczek 6, Calman 5 (Nagar, 67), Benayoun 7; Doro 5.5 | (Pacha, 46 - 6.5), Katan 5.5. ******** Guests: -. | Gilardi 5.5; E. Arbel 5, Y. Koretski 5 (L. Asulin, 61), Barmecher 5, Mishal | 5.5, Entebbi 6; Gat 6, Ivanov 5 (Zanetti, 88), Simhon 4.5 (Vilner, 67), | Naduda 5.5; Filipchuk 4. ******** REFEREE: Meir Levi (6). AUDIENCE: 8,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
As for Maccabee Haifa, it managed to do its part of the fight, and that's only a pity the margin summed up in only 3 goals. Despite the clear superiority of the hosts, Herzliya performed some great counterattacks, but Nir Davidovich stopped all of them superbly; on the other hand, the Greens failed to score through Yaniv Katan and Adoram Keisi. Just before the break, a far-ranger of Yossi Benayoun finally found the net, and from that moment on, the things went easier. 8 minutes after the break, Jerzy Brzeczek found the head of the hungry substitute Victor Pacha, who sent it home - Gilardi could've taken the ball with a slightly bigger concentration. 2 minutes from time, the score was sealed - Benayoun found Pacha at the right wing, the Albanian forward raised the ball into the box, and Alon Harazi sent a flying header to the nearest corner, 3:0. Herzliya still didn't achieve officially the goal of staying in the National League, but I don't see any problems for this sympathetic team of Shiya Feigenbaum. And another story to be reported about - before the game and after each goal, the players of Haifa ran towards their 2nd keeper Yehuda Boaron, watching the game from the wheelchair. Being hurt awfully in a traffic accident and staying in a coma for several months, Boaron is finally out of danger and started the period of recovery. Long life to him.
BNEI-YEHUDA TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:0 (0:0). --------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Cobi Refua (84). | Smadja 6; O. Levi 5.5, Fletcher 6, Feigenbaum 6, Y. Avihail 6; Schwegger | 6.5, Liberman 5 (S. Mizrahi, 46 - 6), Mararo 5, Madar 6; Shirazi 6 (Galili, | 80), COBI REFUA 6.5 (Siton, 89). ******** Guests: -. | Elimelekh 5.5; F. Halfon 6 (Ben-Ami, 61 - 5.5), Gershon 6.5, M. Ohayon 6, | Kahila 6, R. Nakhman 6; S. Cohen 6, Idan Tal 6, Tikwa 5.5 (Simerotic, 61 - | 5), Tuama 5.5; Tubi 5 (Avi Azulai, 80). ******** REFEREE: Amit Klein (8). AUDIENCE: 3,000, Shkhunat-ha'Tikwa Stadium, Tel-Aviv. ********
It could've been a surprising result, if not for the circumstances - the Oranges desperately needed the points, and the Reds mostly prepared for the Cup final. Still, Assaf Tubi could've scored a numerous amount of times and failed in them all. And, if you don't score, you concede. 6 minutes from time, a free kick of Yossi Madar was raised into the box, and Cobi Refua headed the ball home, after a disastrous jump of Shavit Elimelekh. An important step for Bnei-Yehuda to be safe in the Premier League, but the next week it will not be easy, vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 2:2 (2:0). -------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Miroslav Lusek (25), Guy Itzhak (27). | Goresh 4.5; I. Amar 5.5, MORAD MAGAMEDOV 7, S. Tsofin 6, Partieli 5.5; | Muslem 5 (RED, 59), Lusek 6.5, E. Levi 5.5 (E. Pariente, 66), G. Itzhak 6 | (Mira, 69); Bransi 4.5, S. Avitan 5.5 (Malihi, 82). ******** Guests: Manor Hassan (59), Guy Shamir (81). | Hess 5; Maya 5 (Hassan, 46 - 6), Kolosevic 4.5, Ihiel 5.5 (Rosen, 73), | I. Boaron 5; Kozoshvili 6.5, Badir 6, Zandberg 5.5 (Shamir, 64 - RED, 86), | Attar 7, Abrabanel 4.5; Kakun 4.5. ******** REFEREE: Arik Haimovich (8). AUDIENCE: 1,000, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
As usual, the derby of Petakh-Tikwa was hot, and as usual, the disciplinary matters were numerous. This time, however, the soccer gave us some interesting moments as well. 25 minutes from the start, Miroslav Lusek scored his debut goal in the National League, bouncing the ball from 16 meters over the hesitant Shai Hess, after the preparation of Guy Itzhak; the goal passer scored himself 2 minutes later, reacting to the wide ball of Eran Levi quicker and braver than the keeper. However, the 2nd half was a different story. Manor Hassan reduced the score, after a goal pass of Reuven Attar (59), and provoked Sami Muslem for a dirty reaction - a booking for Hassan and a red card for Muslem were justified. And 9 minutes from time, it was again Attar's pass, and this time the substitute Guy Shamir headed the equalizer home; twice, those were the atrocious moves of the keeper Dudu Goresh. After scoring a goal, Shamir was booked for taking his shirt off during the celebrations, and it cost him a lot; just 5 minutes later, he was sent off with a 2nd booking.
HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION - Maccabee Yaffa 3:1 (0:0). --------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Udi Kabudi (52), Eyal Cohen (72), Nissan Capeta (74). | Y. Mizrahi 5.5; G. Deri 5, T. Eliyahu 5.5, Sebeg 5.5, Albert 5; A. Brumer | 5, Pitusi 5, Capeta 5.5 (Y. Amar, 75); Kabudi 5, Shikwa 5 (EYAL COHEN, 62 - | 6), Rafi Cohen 5 (Yaron, 83). ******** Guests: Imad Bukhari (59). | Davidoff 4.5; Dan Levi 5, Rabinovich 5, Lupo 5, M. Sason 5; G. | Hershlikovich 4.5, Rishti 4.5, N. Cohen 6, Afek 6, Djilovski 4.5 (Kahil, | 75); Bukhari 5. ******** REFEREE: Lior Korenfeld (7). AUDIENCE: 400, Superland Stadium, Rishon le-Zion. ********
An awful performance of Rishon in the 1st half was, luckily for the hosts, partly forgotten after the break, and vs Yaffa it was more than enough. Udi Kabudi opened the score with a great shot from 25 meters, under the right crossbar of David Davidoff (52), but 7 minutes later, Imad Bukhari headed home the equalizer, after a free kick preparation of the veteran Nissim Cohen. Rishon seemed to be confused until, 18 minutes from time, the substitute Eyal Cohen took the initiative, penetrated through the center and from 18 meters released a flat and precise ball to the right corner of Yaffa. 2 minutes later, the story was over - a shot of Moshe Sebeg wasn't held tight by David Davidoff, and Nissan Capeta was happy to be at the right place at the right time, 3:1.
Hapoel Jerusalem - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 1:1 (1:1). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Shlomi Danino (14). | Strauber 5.5; S. Amar 5.5, S. Mihei 5.5, T. Azulai 6, S. Danino 6.5; Gola | 6, EYAL AVRAHAMI 7, Zeladzevic 5.5 (Setti, 57 - 5.5), M. Salman 5.5, | Costelnik 5.5 (Y. Avrahami, 75); Valentinic 5.5 (Menakhem, 57 - 5.5). ******** Guests: Georgi Daraselia (25). | Pashko 5.5; Zaric 5.5, Khen 6, Fur 6, Avigdor 6; Shlomi Danan 6, Flash 5.5, | Daraselia 6.5, B. Hadad 5.5; Tsafrir 5.5 (D. Kabeda, 64), Siasiah 6. ******** REFEREE: Haim Yaacov (9). AUDIENCE: 1,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
A draw which satisfied none of the teams, but lest of all Holon - this team, for the first time this season and in the worst possible timing, found itself under the red line. The hosts opened the score after just 14 minutes, when a free kick of Eyal Avrahami fell on a head of Shlomi Danino with a brilliant header, 1:0. 11 minutes later, it was the free kick of Georgi Daraselia from 25 meters, surprising Liran Strauber a lot. Both teams tried, but could not decide the game until the very end.
MACCABEE IRONI ASHDOD - Hapoel Beit-Shean 2:1 (0:0). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: Eyal Almoshnino (79), Amir Turgeman (88). | Devadze 5; Hazut 6, Masouli 5, Fibakh 5, Spire 5.5 (Tobol, 67); Almoshnino | 5.5, Martsiano 5 (Fadida, 62), Dego 5.5, Balog 5.5; Turgeman 6, Zrihen 5 | (Y. Malka, 89). ******** Guests: Marius Cinka (61). | MEIR COHEN 7.5; Tsuref 5, Elkaslassi 7, Dudu Dahan 6, Sapir 5; Hader 5.5, | Rozosevic 5, Almog Hazan 5, Gili Levi 5 (H. Irmiyahu, 46 - 5.5), Cinka 5.5 | (R. Sagi, 89); M. Uzan 5 (Y. Biton, 86). ******** REFEREE: Nir Baabour (9). AUDIENCE: 1,800, Yud-Alef Stadium, Ashdod. ********
A game of make or break for Ashdod didn't seem to go right from the very beginning - Beit-Shean was under its tremendous pressure, but had Meir Cohen in its net and Shai Elkaslassi in its defence performing miracles. Moreover, deep in the 2nd half, the only decent attack of Beit-Shean opened the score - Moris Uzan found Marius Cinka completely alone in front of Akakiy Devadze, and the Romanian forward passed the keeper and rolled the ball into an empty net, 1:0. Ashdod was pressing even more vehemently from this moment on, and finally managed to reach its goal of 3 points - first, Eyal Almoshnino equalized, after a confusion inside Beit-Shean's box, and 2 minutes from time, Amir Turgeman shot flatly his 17th goal this season. Ashdod still has 2 very tough games to play, against the fresh Champions Hapoel Haifa away and Beitar Jerusalem at home.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Meir Cohen
(Hapoel Beit-Shean)
Alon Harazi Morad Magamedov Shai Elkaslassi Dedi Ben-Dayan
(Maccabee Haifa) (Mcb. Petakh-Tikwa) (Hapoel Beit-Shean) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Eyal Avrahami Guy Tsarfati Offir Koppel Avigdor Itzhak
(Hapoel Jerusalem) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Maccabee Haifa) (Hapoel Kefar-Saba)
Yaniv Avvargeal Andrzej Kubica
(Hapoel Kefar-Saba) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Maccabee Tel-Aviv - 3.
Maccabee Haifa, Hapoel Kefar-Saba, Hapoel Beit-Shean - 2.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, Hapoel Jerusalem - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 28 21 4 3 61-21 67 EC1
2 (2) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 28 18 3 7 70-31 57
3 (4) Maccabee Haifa 28 18 3 7 58-23 57
4 (3) Beitar Jerusalem 28 16 6 6 62-30 54
5 (5) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 28 14 7 7 43-25 49
6 (6) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 28 13 7 8 52-40 46
7 (7) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 28 11 6 11 46-57 39
8 (10) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 28 10 6 12 49-59 36
9 (9) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 28 9 7 12 42-42 34
10 (8) Maccabee Herzliya 28 10 4 14 31-40 34
11 (11) Hapoel Jerusalem 28 10 4 14 32-51 34
12 (13) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 28 9 6 13 37-48 33
13 (14) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 28 8 8 12 36-46 32
14 (12) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 28 7 10 11 33-33 31
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 28 5 3 20 25-74 18 Relegated
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 28 1 4 23 13-70 7 Relegated
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Yaniv Avvargeal, forward, Hapoel Kefar-Saba.
TOP SCORERS: Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 19(3)
Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 19(4) 1(0)
**********************************************************
Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 17(4)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 17(6) 4(0)
Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 17(7) 1(0)
**********************************************************
Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 16(1)
**********************************************************
Yossi Benayoun (Maccabee Haifa) 15(0) 1(0)
**********************************************************
Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 14(0) 1(0)
Cobi Refua (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 14(0) 1(0)
Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 14(2)
**********************************************************
Victor Pacha (Maccabee Haifa) 13(0) 1(0)
(9 goals in Hapoel Jerusalem)
**********************************************************
Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 12(0)
Giovanni Rosso (Hapoel Haifa) 12(5)
**********************************************************
Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 11(0)
Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 11(0)
Nissan Capeta (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 11(3) 1(0)
**********************************************************
Udi Kabudi (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 10(1) 1(0)
Assaf Tubi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 10(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 Haifa (1) | Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (13) |
| Maccabee Tel-Aviv (2) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (12) |
| Maccabee Yaffa (16) | Maccabee Haifa (3) |
| Beitar Jerusalem (4) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (7) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (14) | Hapoel Tel-Aviv (5) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (6) | Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (8) |
| Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (9) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (10) | Hapoel Jerusalem (11) |
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