23 goals, 3 red cards, 4 penalties awarded and 3 scored - this was the story of the last weekend, sad for the Green Haifa and fantastic for the Red one. 2 games were decided in the very last minutes, as Ilan Bakhar defeated Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa and Yossi Gordana missed a draw chance of Hapoel Rishon le-Zion. Maccabee Tel-Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem devastated their opponents, and another "Game Of The Season", this time between these two teams at Teddy a week from now, promises to be very exciting. And a little history - Hapoel Beer-Sheva, stopping the series of 5 consecutive losses and 462 dry minutes, scored its goal No. 1000 in the National League.
The best game was undoubtedly in Haifa where two truly European teams met in the derby, and Hapoel won it for the first time since 12/06/1976 (!). Hapoel was clearly better, and Maccabee obviously lacked its 2 fantastic playmakers, Haim Revivo and Alon Hazan. Still, the Greens shouldn't seek for ifs and buts, but make some situation checks. [Yesterday after the game a bunch of so-called "fans" demanded the coach, Giora Spiegel, to be fired; nothing can prove them right, as Giora does a wonderful job in the team and no one is secured from some occasional losses, but there should be a change. For example, Edgardo Adinolfi should be replaced IMMEDIATELY]. And as for the game - Rafi Cohen did a wonderful job in the net, stopped 2 deadly balls of Reuven Attar and then stopped Amir Turgeman who kicked him (with no intention) in the stomach, for what he was booked. Injured as he was, Rafi nearly stopped the penalty kick later on, reacting and touching the ball, but deflecting it in. And 20 minutes afterwards, Amir Turgeman was the first one to touch the pass of Reuven Attar (who is in the fantastic form lately), caressing the ball before Rafi Cohen and Alon Harazi to send it in. "The Best Scorers Of 1995" were Haim Revivo and Amir Turgeman; the history is back, but now they're joined by Reuven Attar, the best in the League by now, with 10 goals and 6 assists.
Maccabee had a wonderful opportunity of Offer Shitrit, during the 0:0, but the latter, overrunning Tal Banin, sent the ball some centimeters away from the post. The second one was of Kandaurov, and he sent a wonderful bomb from 25 meters into the high left corner of Zoltan Veg. [The Hungarian National keeper admitted after the game: "This was a goal to be seen in Europe. I expected him to shoot, but nevertheless I was surprised with the shot itself"]. But this goal, fantastic as it was, didn't change a thing. Rubi Shapira, the sponsor of Hapoel Haifa, embraced the coach Avraham Grant as the tears filled his eyes, and said: "It was worthwhile to come here from Nigeria [where his fish plants are situated. -- M.M.] to see it; thank you for that"; tthe next week, Hapoel Haifa has a good chance to catch the 1st place and will support Beitar Jerusalem. And as for Maccabee, its boss, Yaacov Shakhar, was optimistic: "Well, now we'll try to start another series of being undefeated in derbys, and hopefully, it'll continue for 20 years again. One loss [the first of Maccabee this season. - M.M.] is natural in a while, even for superior teams".
Maccabee Tel-Aviv hoped to see Haifa's derby ended with a draw; still, it did everything depending on itself, to make its top position steadier. Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, the team defeated just once before that game, was nearly humiliated, and just the keeping of Shai Hess and the bar of Victor Moroz prevented the horrible score. Hapoel could score just once, in the dying minutes, but Uvarov stretched well to save the ball of Tomacz Czibola in one-to-one, after the latter had passed Gadi Brumer. Maccabee seems to be well-prepared to meet Beitar Jerusalem the next week, in Teddy.
The problem for the leaders is that Beitar seems to be well-prepared too, devastating Beitar Tel-Aviv 4:0 yesterday and being very close to the handball score; as for Beitar Tel-Aviv, if the keeper Sagi Strauss, conceding 4 goals, gets the grade of 5.5 and is the best in his team, something serious is happening there. Strauss was definitely the best on the pitch after 36 minutes, frustrating the forwards of Jerusalem time after time; and here came the defender David Amsalem, shooting a terrific left-foot volley from 12 meters after a double pass with Ronen Harazi. Istvan Salloi, still not in a top form he used to be in, scored from the penalty spot, and then Eli Ohana was twice on a rebound, once from the keeper and once from the post. Istvan Pisont, the new Hungarian midfielder of Beitar replacing Laszlo Czeh, impressed for good.
The big drama was registered in Petakh-Tikwa, where Maccabee of Avraham Marchinsky was pacing securely towards the 7th consecutive victory, taking a lead after 22 minutes from yet another goal of Najouan Grayib; Shuli Gilardi, the keeper of Herzliya, was injured and substituted (31) by Yehuda Boaron, who did quite a good job. And then came the surprising development - first, Offer Mizrahi was knocked down in the box and equalized from a penalty spot (Golan Malul was close to the ball, but didn't reach it), and then, during the dying seconds, the 41-years-old Nissim Cohen made a wonderful pass to the substitute Ilan Bakhar, who passed Golan Malul and scored. Oleg Naduda, formerly Spartak Moscow and now in Herzliya, was the best on the pitch. Avraham Marchinsky said after the game: "No one ever thought we'd win for ever, but today I'm angry because of the form of our game". And on the other hand, Gili Landau, another very successful coach [7 games, +5=0-2, 9-4, while the 2 losses were the minimal ones, 0:1, away to Maccabee Tel-Aviv and Hapoel Haifa - M.M.], said: "The players won here, and not me [though he made 2 great substitutions, putting Yair Simhon and Ilan Bakhar in. - M.M.]. As for Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, the team does a wonderful job. I'd be happy to lose after every 6 victories."
Viko Hadad could stay yesterday another very successful coach, but his team missed a clear opportunity to take the points from Beit-Shean, after Yossi Gordana misled Meir Cohen from the penalty spot, but sent the ball to a post. Before this event, the correct goal of Gordana was disallowed, as the referee suddenly saw the forward pushing the defender. Hapoel Beit-Shean, contunuing the tradition of winning at home 2:1 at Hanukkah [last year the victim was Maccabee Tel-Aviv - M.M.], scored first through Nassim Agbariya, and Assaf Dagai equalized. Shimon Danan, the best on the pitch, scored a winner from a very hard angle - a mistake by Shavit Elimelekh, Rishon's keeper.
Being beaten by Najouan Grayib a week ago, Hapoel Beer-Sheva won this time through its wonderful Arab player, Hisham Zoabi; seeing Oren Sapir heading the ball weakly back, Zoabi reached it, passed the keeper Boris Beloshapka (very good, as usual, but just him in the entire team) and shot it in. This was the goal No. 1000 of Hapoel Beer-Sheva ever in the National League. And maybe, the team is getting now out of the bottom. There was also an incident, when just before the half-time, Gal Hershlikovich and Armand Zeiberlinsh kicked each other and were sent off; for Zeiberlinsh it was the last game in Hapoel Beer-Sheva, as he leaves for Hapoel Beit-Shean.
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv defeated Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 3:2, and both teams showed us quite an attractive soccer. The foreigners of Bnei-Yehuda made all the difference - Joseph Doro was very secure in the back of midline, Igor Shkvyrin made a goal pass and headed a great ball to the post, and Vassili Moukan scored, made a goal pass and was the best on the pitch.
The header of Nir Shitrit, after a corner by Vassili Moukan, was just the prelude. Soon, it was Nir Sevilla in a bright personal effort, passing one defender, misleading the other and shooting a great ball to the right low corner, 2:0. Before and after, Alexander Zhidkov saved the net of Holon several times, and Holon reduced the score with a flying header of Hezi Shirazi. Bnei-Yehuda reacted momentarily, and Igor Shkvyrin passed the ball to Vassili Moukan, who shot a great ball from 18 meters to the left post of Zhidkov and in. This was the story of the 1st half, and after the break it was Holon all over. However, this pressure was enough just to reduce the score - Denecz Eszenyi passed the ball to Hezi Shirazi, and the latter took the ball with his right foot and shot a bicycle kick with his left above Nir Shitrit and Bonnie Ginzburg.
And talking about the unjustice, it was done in Kefar-Saba, where Hapoel Tel-Aviv was attacking time and again, finding Eran Scheinsinger in a top form. A substitute Eli Tsuref headed the winner for the hosts, 6 minutes from the final whistle, and 2 minutes later, Krasimierz Muskal of Hapoel Tel-Aviv was sent off with his 2nd yellow card.
NEXT WEEK: Beitar Jerusalem (3) vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv (1), not to be missed! Another game of interest - Hapoel Tel-Aviv (7) vs Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (5).
MACCABEE TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 3:0 (2:0).
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Hosts: Eli Driks (12), Avi Nimni (29), Nir Klinger (77).
Guests: -.
THE BEST: Eli Driks, forward, Maccabee Tel-Aviv.
Beitar Tel-Aviv - BEITAR JERUSALEM 0:4 (0:1).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: David Amsalem (37), Istvan Salloi (48 pen), Eli Ohana (63, 76).
THE BEST: Ronen Harazi, forward, Beitar Jerusalem.
HAPOEL HAIFA - Maccabee Haifa 2:1 (1:0).
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Hosts: Reuven Attar (31 pen), Amir Turgeman (52).
Guests: Sergei Kandaurov (72).
THE BEST: Reuven Attar, midfielder, Hapoel Haifa.
Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 1:2 (1:0).
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Hosts: Najouan Grayib (22).
Guests: Offer Mizrahi (81 pen), Ilan Bakhar (90).
THE BEST: Oleg Naduda, forward, Maccabee Herzliya.
HAPOEL KEFAR-SABA - Hapoel Tel-Aviv 1:0 (0:0).
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Hosts: Eli Tsuref (84).
Guests: -.
RED: Krasimierz Muskal, midfielder, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, 86.
THE BEST: Eran Scheinsinger, keeper, Hapoel Kefar-Saba.
Maccabee Yaffa - HAPOEL BEER-SHEVA 0:1 (0:1).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: Hisham Zoabi (10).
RED: Gal Hershlikovich, midfielder, Maccabee Yaffa, 43.
Armand Zeiberlinsh, midfielder, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, 43.
THE BEST: Shlomo Iluz, defender, Hapoel Beer-Sheva.
HAPOEL BEIT-SHEAN - Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 2:1 (1:0).
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Hosts: Nassim Agbariya (29), Shimon Danan (83).
Guests: Assaf Dagai (55).
THE BEST: Shimon Danan, midfielder, Hapoel Beit-Shean.
On the 87th minute Yossi Gordana (Hapoel Rishon le-Zion) missed a penalty
kick - the ball went to the right post of Meir Cohen.
BNEI-YEHUDA TEL-AVIV - Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 3:2 (3:1).
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Hosts: Nir Shitrit (16), Nir Sevilla (32), Vassili Moukan (44).
Guests: Hezi Shirazi (43, 52).
THE BEST: Vassili Moukan, midfielder, Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv.
THE ROUND'S TEAM:
-----------------
Eran Scheinsinger
(Hapoel Kefar-Saba)
David Perets Demir Lajec Amir Shelakh David Amsalem
(Hapoel Beit-Shean) (Hapoel Haifa) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Beitar Jerusalem)
Reuven Attar Vassili Moukan Shimon Danan Avi Nimni
(Hapoel Haifa) (Bnei-Yehuda) (Hapoel Beit-Shean) (Maccabee Tel-Aviv)
Eli Driks Ronen Harazi
(Maccabee Tel-Aviv) (Beitar Jerusalem)
Maccabee Tel-Aviv - 3.
Hapoel Haifa, Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Beit-Shean - 2.
Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv, Hapoel Kefar-Saba - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 13 11 1 1 34- 9 34
2 (3) Hapoel Haifa 13 10 1 2 30-10 31
3 (4) Beitar Jerusalem 13 9 3 1 30-13 30
4 (2) Maccabee Haifa 13 8 4 1 35-16 28
5 (5) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 13 8 1 4 25-21 25
6 (6) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 13 5 6 2 18-13 21
7 (7) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 13 6 2 5 16-17 20
8 (8) Maccabee Herzliya 13 6 1 6 12-12 19
9 (10) Hapoel Beer-Sheva 13 4 3 6 17-15 15
10 (9) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 13 4 1 8 11-18 13
11 (13) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 13 3 2 8 14-25 11
12 (14) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 13 3 2 8 11-23 11
13 (16) Hapoel Beit-Shean 13 3 2 8 12-27 11
14 (11) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 13 3 1 9 16-28 10
15 (12) Maccabee Yaffa 13 3 0 10 10-26 9
16 (15) Beitar Tel-Aviv 13 2 2 9 15-33 8
BEST PLAYER: Reuven Attar, midfielder, Hapoel Haifa.
TOP SCORERS: Amir Turgeman (Hapoel Haifa) 10(0) 1
Haim Revivo (Maccabee Haifa) 10(0)
Reuven Attar (Hapoel Haifa) 10(3) 1(1)
*********************************************************
Eli Driks (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 9(1) 1
*********************************************************
Nir Klinger (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 8(0) 1
Roman Filipchuk (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 8(0)
Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 8(2)
Sergei Kandaurov (Maccabee Haifa) 8(3) 1
*********************************************************
Eli Ohana (Beitar Jerusalem) 7(0) 2
Najouan Grayib (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 7(1) 1
*********************************************************
Offer Shitrit (Maccabee Haifa) 6(0)
Sergei Gusev (Hapoel Beer-Sheva) 6(0)
Istvan Salloi (Beitar Jerusalem) 6(1) 1(1)
Ronen Harazi (Beitar Jerusalem) 6(1)
NOTE - the penalties scored are put in brackets. The last
column means the number of goals scored this week.
NEXT ROUND (in a week):
| Hosts | Guests |
| Beitar Jerusalem (3) | Maccabee Tel-Aviv (1) |
| Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (14) | Hapoel Haifa (2) |
| Maccabee Haifa (4) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (12) |
| Hapoel Tel-Aviv (7) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (5) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (6) | Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (11) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (8) | Maccabee Yaffa (15) |
| Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (10) | Hapoel Beer-Sheva (9) |
| Hapoel Beit-Shean (13) | Beitar Tel-Aviv (16) |
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