Hapoel Haifa - Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 2:2 (2:2). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Offer Talker (38), Giovanni Rosso (45). | Perets 5 (Perro, 46 - 5); Talker 5.5, Ben-Shimon 5.5, Ami Azulai 5, Grayib | 6; Leibovich 6, Milenko 6, Ulyanov 5.5, Rosso 6; LIRON BASIS 6.5 (Hageage, | 85), Nissim 5. ******** Guests: Amir Turgeman (22), Barukh Dego (44). | Devadze 5; Hazut 5.5, Masouli 5, Fibakh 5, Spire 4.5 (Tobol, 53 - 5); | Almoshnino 5.5, Martsiano 5, Dego 6, Balog 5, A. Sharabi 5 (Zrihen, 65 - | 5); Turgeman 6.5. ******** REFEREE: Eyal Tsur (8). AUDIENCE: 12,000, Kiryat-Eliezer Stadium, Haifa. ********
Recovering from the shameful performance in Kefar-Saba, but still playing without the injured Dudu Awwat, Oren Zeituni and Alon Halfon, the new Champions Hapoel Haifa managed to take just a point at home, vs the inferior squad of Maccabee Ironi Ashdod; Ashdod, therefore, became the only team this season to achieve a positive record vs the fresh Champions, but for Nissim Bakhar's team even this point doesn't promise another season in the Premier League - even in Ashdod, Beitar Jerusalem is tough. The game started with both sides attacking, but the guests scored first - Barukh Dego sent a ball to Amir Turgeman, and the latter entered the box, overran 2 defenders and beat Avi Perets from a close range. Haifa reacted with a penetration of Najouan Grayib at the left wing and his precise pass to Offer Talker; Akakiy Devadze reacted to the first shot, but was helpless against the rebound. Before the break, the teams exchanged goals, to seal the result of the game. First, Amir Turgeman reached the ball, after Giovanni Rosso's mistake, rushed forward and made a pass to Barukh Dego, who launched the ball over the keeper with an utter elegance. Giovanni Rosso, frustrated by his mistake and willing to compensate his devoted fans, took his time to equalize - around 20 seconds; getting the ball from Ran Ben-Shimon after the game was renewed, he sent it from within the box to the far corner of Devadze. After the break, the host team was closer to the victory, but Devadze parried the free kick bomb of Ben-Shimon to the bar, and the other efforts were irrelevant.
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 2:1 (1:1). ----------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Alon Offir (36 pen), Alexei Kosolapov (54). | Uvarov 6; A. Offir 6, Emenalo 5.5, G. Brumer 5.5, Ben-Dayan 5.5; O. Haim 5 | (Tsarfati, 64), Luz 6 (I. Zohar, 85), ALEXEI KOSOLAPOV 6, D. Revivo 5.5, | Glam 5.5 (Ishai, 85); Kubica 5. ******** Guests: Offer Levi (23). | Smadja 6; O. Levi 5.5, Fletcher 5.5, Feigenbaum 6, Y. Avihail 5.5; | Schwegger 5.5, Liberman 5, S. Mizrahi 5, Mararo 5 (R. Asraf, 78); Shirazi 5 | (Galili, 71), Refua 5.5. ******** REFEREE: Haim Lipkovich (7). AUDIENCE: 4,000, National Stadium, Ramat-Gan. ********
This game brought Maccabee Tel-Aviv to the European Cups again (though it's still early to say that, without a theoretical doubt), and may also be the one to send Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv one League down. It started well for the guests, when Gadi Brumer's header hit the bar (13) and Eilon Schwegger headed to the bar a dangerous arching header of Alexei Kosolapov (16) - and on the other hand, a wide shot of Offer Levi hit Dedi Ben-Dayan and surprisingly misled the veteran Uvarov (23) to open the score. Kubica, half-dead from the hot weather, still managed to find Smadja's bar (33), and the keeper managed to stop a bomb of Kosolapov from 25 meters (26). 10 minutes later, however, Kosolapov sent Alon Offir into the box; after a dubious collision with Yaron Avihail, Offir dived inside the box to mislead the referee Haim Lipkovich and converted himself the penalty kick into an easy equalizer. Shortly after the break, the comeback was completed - Alon Offir sent a corner kick into the box, Gadi Brumer touched it lightly, and Kosolapov added another touch to reach the ball before Smadja, 2:1. Before the end, those were the missed chances of David Revivo (58) and Ben Luz (76), and the great save of Smadja from Brumer's shot (64). On the other hand, Maccabee was lucky to have Uvarov in its goal, with his saves in one-to-one with Offer Levi (74) and Naor Galili (79). Uvarov also made his crown save 7 minutes from time, stretching well to reach with his fingertips a clever bounce of Sahar Mizrahi.
BEITAR JERUSALEM - Hapoel Kefar-Saba 4:1 (3:1). ------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Nir Sevilla (6, 25, 40), Tamas Sandor (66). | Korenfein 6; Bakhar 6, Tretyak 5.5, Domb 6, R. Deri 5.5; Shelakh 5.5, | Abuksis 6, Salloi 6, Hamar 6, T. Sandor 7; NIR SEVILLA 7.5 (O. Shitrit, | 69). ******** Guests: Niv Tal (14). | Strauss 5; Chichian 5, Ben-Haim 5, I. Koren 5 (R. Glam, 68), I. Haim 5 | (Netser, 46 - 5); Shum 5 (A. Sandor, 46 - 5), A. Itzhak 5, Shem-Tov 5, | Ungur 5.5, Niv Tal 5.5; Avvargeal 5.5. ******** REFEREE: Nir Baabour (8). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. ********
Playing with no fears of failing to reach the objective (neither Europe nor the Cup were on stake anymore), Beitar Jerusalem felt completely free to play the game it knows and to devastate Hapoel Kefar-Saba, the latter still way too glad after its surprising victory over Hapoel Haifa the last week. Nir Sevilla scored another 3 goals of his, after the goal passes of Ilan Bakhar (6) and Tamas Sandor (25, 40); the 2nd goal was really beautiful, as Yossi Abuksis' wide ball found 3 consecutive headers (!) of Salloi, Sandor and Sevilla. Kefar-Saba managed to register a perfect combination equalizer, the chain of Strauss - Avvargeal - Ungur - Niv Tal taking only 11 seconds to lead the ball from one net to another. However, this was the best Kefar-Saba could achieve in the capital. The 2nd half was bad for both of the teams, but Tamas Sandor scored his usual goal, the 10th this season.
MACCABEE YAFFA - Maccabee Haifa 1:0 (1:0). -------------------------------------------- Hosts: Imad Bukhari (30 pen). | Davidoff 5.5; Lupo 5, Dan Levi 6.5, Moyal 6.5, Rabinovich 6.5, Rishti 6.5; | M. Sason 7, NISSIM COHEN 7, Afek 6 (Kahil, 66), Djilovski 6; Bukhari 7. ******** Guests: -. | Davidovich 6.5; Zhano 5.5, Benado 5, Sassi 4.5 (Silbas, 65), A. Keisi 4.5 | (Nagar, 75); Koppel 4.5, A. Harazi 5, Brzeczek 4 (Doro, 46 - 5), Benayoun | 4.5; Pacha 4, Katan 5. ******** REFEREE: Yosef Benishti (6). AUDIENCE: 2,000, Gaon Stadium, Yaffa. ********
Definitely, the surprise of the year! Maccabee Yaffa, the beating boys of the season, managed to take the points from the teams that got in trouble because of that - 2 from Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tsafririm Holon, 3 from Maccabee Ironi Ashdod and now Maccabee Haifa. As for the Greens, the winner of PSG and SV Ried probably doesn't deserve to try in Europe again the next season, after such a shameful performance like this Saturday; all the rest of the words are unnecessary. Yaffa, led by the 44-years-old Nissim Cohen and the youngsters Moti Sason and Imad Bukhari, created most of the opportunities, and if not for Nir Davidovich in a superb form, the result could've been catastrophic. Let's wait whether Yaffa can return to the Premier League in just one year; let's wait whether Haifa can do better the next season.
HAPOEL TSAFRIRIM HOLON - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:0 (0:0). ----------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Amir Avigdor (59). | Pashko 6.5; Fleeter 6, Fur 6, Sokher 6, Avigdor 6; Shlomi Dahan 6, Zaric 5 | (Tsafrir, 46 - 5.5), Flash 6 (Postacci, 71), Daraselia 6, B. Hadad (TAL | KHEN, 23 - 6.5); Siasiah 5.5. ******** Guests: -. | Elimelekh 6; R. Nakhman 6, Kahila 6, Gershon 5.5, M. Ohayon 5.5, Hillel 6; | Rupenik 5.5, Udi 5.5 (Simerotic, 51 - 5), Idan Tal 6 (S. Cohen, 67); Tubi | 5, Tuama 5 (Tikwa, 60 - 5). ******** REFEREE: Yaacov Ben-Hemo (8). AUDIENCE: 1,500, Ironi Stadium, Holon. ********
"The Save Of The Year" undoubtedly belongs to Martin Pashko, who denied Yaacov Hillel, 8 minutes from the start; Hillel's mighty shot from 25 meters kicked the head of Nir Sokher and directed itself under the left crossbar, but Pashko stayed for more than a second in the air, deflecting the ball to the corner with his fingertips after the most impressive flight this year in Israel. This was, more or less, the only remarkable event of the 1st half. After the break, it became clear Holon wanted to win more than the fresh Cup holders. 14 minutes after the break, the winner was scored, as Amir Avigdor met the free kick of Georgi Daraselia with a great header to his near corner.
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa - HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION 2:3 (1:0). -------------------------------------------------------- Hosts: Eli Abrabanel (10), Moti Kakun (80). | Abramov 5.5; Kozoshvili 4.5, Kolosevic 4.5, Ihiel 5, I. Boaron 4.5; Rosen | 5.5 (Luzon, 75), Badir 5, Makoveyev 5 (Zandberg, 64 - 5), Attar 6, | Abrabanel 6 (Hassan, 87); Kakun 5.5. ******** Guests: Udi Kabudi (51, 88), Moshe Sebeg (90). | Y. Mizrahi 5; G. Deri 6.5, Rothem 5.5, T. Eliyahu 5.5, Albert 5.5; Sebeg | 5.5, Pitusi 5 (Y. Amar, 75), Capeta 5.5 (Markicevic, 64 - 5); UDI KABUDI | 6.5, Shikwa 5 (E. Cohen, 54 - 6), Rafi Cohen 5. ******** REFEREE: Alon Yaffet (9). AUDIENCE: 1,000, Ironi Stadium, Petakh-Tikwa. ********
The start belonged to Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, as Eli Abrabanel got a fantastic ball from Reuven Attar and overplayed Yaniv Mizrahi, just 10 minutes from the start. Before the break, the 2nd keeper of the hosts, Eyal Abramov, was good enough to stop all Rishon's humble efforts, but shortly afterwards, Udi Kabudi scored after Golan Deri's cross. 10 minutes from time, the substitute Yaniv Luzon raised a ball into the box, and Yaniv Mizrahi parried it straight into the body of Moti Kakun, Petakh-Tikwa's sniper going ahead Andrzej Kubica in their stubborn struggle for "The Best Scorer" title. However, Rishon needed some points to stay in the League securely, and scored 2 goals during the very last minutes - first, it was Moshe Sebeg with a header, after Golan Deri's cross and Eyal Abramov's interception mistake, and then, Udi Kabudi sealed Rishon's victory, after the pass of the substitute Eyal Cohen.
Hapoel Beit-Shean - MACCABEE PETAKH-TIKWA 0:3 (0:1). ------------------------------------------------------ Hosts: -. | Rakhamim 5; Tsuref 5 (A. Danan, 82), Dudu Dahan 6, Elkaslassi 5 (RED, 57), | Sapir 6.5; Hader 5.5, Rozosevic 5.5, Almog Hazan 5 (Y. Biton, 82), Cinka | 5.5 (RED, 81); H. Irmiyahu 5.5 (R. Sagi, 59 - 5), M. Uzan 5. ******** Guests: Guy Itzhak (29, 81), Rajid Bransi (87). | Goresh 6; Agiv 6, Magamedov 6, S. Tsofin 6, Partieli 6; I. Amar 6.5, Lusek | 5.5, E. Levi 6 (Malihi, 82), GUY ITZHAK 7 (Mira, 85); Bransi 6, S. Avitan 5 | (R. Sharabi, 65). ******** REFEREE: Eitan Tavrizi (9). AUDIENCE: 500, Ironi Stadium, Beit-Shean. ********
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa also needed a victory to be secure in the Premier League for the next season, and the relegated Beit-Shean served a good training rival to reach this aim. The score was opened by Guy Itzhak's shot from 18 meters (29), and when Shai Elkaslassi was sent off for hitting the brave Guy Itzhak (57), Beit-Shean lost the little wish to play it still had before. However, it took the guests an eternity to score again - after numerous efforts, it was again Guy Itzhak. Marius Cinka was sent off, too, after his nervous reaction towards the youngster Guy Agiv after the goal, and then the team of Eyal Lakhman scored another goal. Kefir Partieli managed to mislead the keeper Sahar Rakhamim and to give a goal pass to Rajid Bransi, who scored after a really long striker's draught.
Maccabee Herzliya - Hapoel Jerusalem 0:0. ------------------------------------------- Hosts: -. | Gilardi 6; A. Levi 5, Barmecher 6, Y. Koretski 6, Mishal 5; Entebbi 5, Gat | 5.5, Ivanov 5.5, Naduda 5.5 (Shabo, 90); Simhon 5 (L. Asulin, 64), | Filipchuk 5 (Dantziger, 90). ******** Guests: -. | Strauber 6; S. Amar 5, S. Mihei 5, A. Sason 5.5, S. Danino 5; T. Azulai 6, | E. Avrahami 5, Shnorman 5 (M. Salman, 71), Zeladzevic 5; Costelnik 5, | Menakhem 5. ******** REFEREE: Dani Koren (9). AUDIENCE: 500, Ironi Stadium, Herzliya. ********
The two teams were afraid to lose, and therefore a draw was quite a justified result; after the game, it turned out this result was enough for both counterparts to stay in the Premier League, regardless of the last week. The only reasonable things to report about were the posts achieved by Vassili Ivanov (25), Yair Simhon (27) and Joseph Costelnik (28); Liran Strauber was there to parry the dangerous balls of Roman Filipchuk (26) and Ivanov (36).
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Martin Pashko
(Hap. Tsafririm Holon)
Golan Deri Tal Khen Dan Levi Ran Rishti
(H. Rishon le-Zion) (Hap. Tsafririm Holon) (Maccabee Yaffa) (Maccabee Yaffa)
Guy Itzhak Alexei Kosolapov Nissim Cohen Tamas Sandor
(Mcb. Petakh-Tikwa) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Maccabee Yaffa) (Beitar Jerusalem)
Nir Sevilla Imad Bukhari
(Beitar Jerusalem) (Maccabee Yaffa)
Maccabee Yaffa - 4.
Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Tsafririm Holon - 2.
Maccabee Tel-Aviv, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion,
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Hapoel Haifa 29 22 4 3 63-23 68 EC1
2 (2) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 29 19 3 7 72-32 60
3 (4) Beitar Jerusalem 29 17 6 6 66-31 57
4 (3) Maccabee Haifa 29 18 3 8 58-24 57
5 (5) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 29 14 7 8 43-26 49 EC3 (Cup)
6 (6) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 29 13 7 9 54-43 46
7 (8) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 29 11 6 12 52-61 39
8 (7) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 29 11 6 12 47-61 39
9 (9) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 29 10 7 12 45-42 37
10 (10) Maccabee Herzliya 29 10 5 14 31-40 35
11 (11) Hapoel Jerusalem 29 10 5 14 32-51 35
12 (14) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 29 8 10 11 34-33 34
13 (13) Maccabee Ironi Ashdod 29 8 9 12 38-48 33
14 (12) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 29 9 6 14 38-50 33
15 (15) Hapoel Beit-Shean 29 5 3 21 25-77 18 Relegated
16 (16) Maccabee Yaffa 29 2 4 23 14-70 10 Relegated
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams after the last week.
BEST PLAYER: Nir Sevilla, forward, Beitar Jerusalem.
TOP SCORERS: Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 20(3) 1(0)
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Andrzej Kubica (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 19(4)
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Amir Turgeman (Maccabee Ironi Ashdod) 18(7) 1(0)
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Nir Sevilla (Beitar Jerusalem) 17(0) 3(0)
Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 17(4)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 17(6)
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Offer Shitrit (Beitar Jerusalem) 16(1)
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Yossi Benayoun (Maccabee Haifa) 15(0)
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Cobi Refua (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 14(0)
Alon Mizrahi (Maccabee Haifa) 14(2)
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Victor Pacha (Maccabee Haifa) 13(0)
(9 goals in Hapoel Jerusalem)
Giovanni Rosso (Hapoel Haifa) 13(5) 1(0)
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Samson Siasiah (Hapoel Tsafririm Holon) 12(0)
Udi Kabudi (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 12(1) 2(0)
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Adrian Ungur (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 11(0)
Rafi Cohen (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 11(0)
Nissan Capeta (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) 11(3)
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Tamas Sandor (Beitar Jerusalem) 10(0) 1(0)
Niv Tal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 10(0) 1(0)
Assaf Tubi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv) 10(1)
Rajid Bransi (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 10(4) 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 |
| Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (9) | Hapoel Haifa (1) |
| Hapoel Kefar-Saba (8) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (2) |
| Maccabee Ironi Ashdod (13) | Beitar Jerusalem (3) |
| Maccabee Haifa (4) | Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (6) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (5) | Maccabee Herzliya (10) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (7) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (15) |
| Hapoel Jerusalem (11) | Maccabee Yaffa (16) |
| Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (14) | Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (12) |
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