22 goals, no red cards, 1 penalty scored and 1 important (at least, for "The Best Scorer" competition) missed, and 1 own goal not changing the outcome - this was the harvest of the last weekend. The main feature of it were the games between the top and the bottom teams; two surprises and one expected result, which were registered in those, seem to clarify the questions of the Championship and the relegation, but make harsher the UEFA Cup berth battle.
A goal of the substitute Nir Sevilla finished the 243 dry minutes of Beitar Jerusalem and became the winner in Kefar-Saba over the local Hapoel, in the game where Itzhak Korenfein and Eran Scheinsinger did their job in the best possible way to prevent another goals. Two other keepers had the leading role in the story of this week - Avi Perets made a dreadful mistake in a surprising home victory of Hapoel Rishon le-Zion against his team, Hapoel Beer-Sheva; and on the other hand, Shavit Elimelekh, our "Man Of The Week", was the main responsible for the surprising victory of Hapoel Tel-Aviv in a home derby. Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa beat Hapoel Taibe at home, 3:0, and caught th 2nd place; now the struggle for this place reopened. The Greens of Maccabee Haifa defeated Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv at home, 2:1; Alon Mizrahi missed a penalty kick, and the Greens caught the 6th place, just to feel the deepest miss after losing to the same Bnei-Yehuda several days ago in the Cup quarterfinals. Offer Shitrit, whom Maccabee Haifa certainly lacks, scored "The Goal Of The Week" vs Hapoel Tsafririm Holon; Holon now is in a really deep trouble, and Shitrit caught up with Alon Mizrahi in "The Best Scorers List". And the victories of Hapoel Beit-Shean at home over Hapoel Haifa and of Maccabee Herzliya away over Hapoel Jerusalem made the capital team of Yossi Mizrahi find itself the 13th; however, it's not dangerous. Now - the details.
Being very pressed after the 2 consecutive losses, Beitar Jerusalem looked bad during the start and gave the hosts, Hapoel Kefar-Saba, all the initiative; Kefar-Saba used it to attack, but a great skill of Korenfein prevented Offer Cohen (5), Avi Sandor (11) and Yaniv Avvargeal (16) from scoring. Later on, Beitar managed to become itself, and the moments were created on the other side - Eran Scheinsinger stopped a dangerous header of Itzhak Zohar (14), and his incredible dive into the left corner to parry a bomb from 25 meters of Jean Talesnikov (36) would be certainly learnt by the young keepers. During a break, the quarrel between Itzhak Zohar and the coach Eli Cohen made the latter substitute Zohar with Ronen Harazi, and 12 minutes from time, the awful Yossi Abuksis was substituted by Nir Sevilla. The 2 substitutes finally brought the victory to the future Champions - after a corner, Ronen Harazi shot mightily from inside the box, Scheinsinger stretched to parry the ball, and Nir Sevilla was on a rebound to put the ball into an empty net. This goal will probably be "The Championship Goal", and the substitute forward, formerly in Maccabee Tel-Aviv, will enter the history then.
Beitar enjoyed yesterday also the loss of its main rival, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, in Rishon le-Zion. The first opportunity was of Shai Holtzman (9), but Rishon was saved by the post; and in the 2nd half, it was the wonderful curved shot of Moshe Sebeg to the left corner of Avi Perets at half a height from 18 meters to open the score. In another 7 minutes, it was a huge mistake of Avi Perets - pressed by Tal Bnaya, he lost the ball to him inside the box, and Bnaya had no problem to score with no keeper around, 2:0. Beer-Sheva, surprised and shocked by the developments, tried to do something; a shot of Sharon Avitan from a close range (81) made Sagi Strauss show us a superb skill, stretching to parry the ball to the post and back to his hands. Finally, Beer-Sheva managed just to reduce the score - Oded Tsakhi knocked Siad Halilovic down inside the box, and Shai Holtzman converted the penalty. But that was it. Beer-Sheva is now only the 3rd.
Considering the draw of the Cup semifinals (Beitar Jerusalem vs Maccabee Tel-Aviv, Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv vs Hapoel Beer-Sheva), we can say the Double holders had a really tough draw, and they'd probably stay outside the European Cups this year. As for Bnei-Yehuda and Hapoel Beer-Sheva, the winner of their game can be in Europe, and therefore, the game will be extremely interesting. But Beer-Sheva should return to itself before it's too late.
The team to catch back the 2nd place was Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, defeating Hapoel Taibe at home. The score was opened after just 2 minutes of play - Ilan Boaron managed to take the ball from the hesitant Bajiat Uda and to pass it to the Slovakian midfielder Andrei Christophick who scored from a close range. In another 20 minutes, it was a wonderful header of Yaniv Offri to beat Devadze; for Offri, it was the first goal since the Week 16. Devadze was the only one in Taibe to show a normal game, saving his team time after time; but one minute from time, he could do nothing against the shot of Eli Abrabanel. 3 unanswered goals of Petakh-Tikwa that may give this team an European berth.
Rishon le-Zion won, and its former keeper, Shavit Elimelekh, won too, this time with Hapoel Tel-Aviv. And what a sweet victory it was - this time in a home derby! Elimelekh was "The Man Of The Game" and also "Our Player Of The Week", registering a wonderful performance and saving his team time after time; and on the other hand, Hapoel scored 3 goals (one, however, to the wrong net), winning 2:1. Nissim Avitan opened the score several seconds before the break, when he managed to beat Alexander Uvarov with a wonderful header. Several minutes after the break, Amir Shelakh lost the ball at his right wing to Sergei Pogodin; the latter advanced, entered the box and shot an unstoppable ball to the left low corner of Uvarov from a hard angle. Maccabee reduced the score after another 4 minutes - Nir Klinger centered the ball into the box, and Sharon Mimer shot it unstoppably under the bar of his own net, in a failed trial to clear the ball away. After 90 minutes, Avi Azulai cleared the ball from the goal-line and left the victory of Hapoel intact. 2:1, and it seems Hapoel will stay in the League for another season. And as for Maccabee, it certainly lacked Itzhak Zohar and Nir Sevilla, its players in the last season that help Beitar Jerusalem now to take its title.
Hapoel Tel-Aviv opened a gap from Hapoel Tsafririm Holon, but therefore Maccabee Tel-Aviv lost the 4th place to Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa. Holon played a game of "make or break" and therefore had a strong motivation, but motivation alone is not enough; even the brightest stars of the Israeli Young National Team (more about it later on), Ziv Kabeda and Tal Khen, can't still play equally against the ordinary players of the National League. Tal Khen nearly scored a magnificent goal, but into a wrong net - his great curved bomb from 15 meters diagonally, in a trial to clear the ball away, already passed the flying Zhidkov, but was stopped by his right post. And Zhidkov made all the possible saves to leave his net dry, but one mistake of his let the guests win. Idan Tal bounced a free kick into the box, Zhidkov failed to reach the high curved ball, and Offer Shitrit volleyed it powerfully into an empty net, "The Goal Of The Week".
Maccabee Haifa caught yesterday the 6th place and still cried some bitter tears - it beat Bnei-Yehuda, but it lost to the same team in an important Cup game that left the Greens this year without Europe... The Oranges opened the score - Nir Davidovich failed to parry well the far-ranger of Goran Varnicic, and Ronen Tsafrir scored from the rebound. Haifa equalized in another 7 minutes, when Hezi Shirazi slid the ball with his head over the stretched hands of hesitantly flying Guy Nakhshon. In another 20 seconds, Nir Davidovich managed to correct his former mistake - Alon Mizrahi was knocked by Arik Benado inside the box and shot himself a penalty kick, but Davidovich stretched into the right direction and parried the ball. Guy Nakhshon denied several chances of Haifa, but finally, Haim Silbas headed it well enough from 12 meters to bring the victory to the hosts. Again, just one place behind Maccabee Tel-Aviv...
The other two games ended with the victories of Hapoel Beit-Shean (3:0 over Hapoel Haifa at home) and Maccabee Herzliya (1:0 over Hapoel Jerusalem away). In an extremely bad game of Hapoel Haifa, again without Tal Banin, these were Sergen Culakovic, Udi Shnorman and Shimon Danan to score and to devastate the opponents; now the father of Shnorman has to stop smoking, as he had promised to do that once Beit-Shean won and his son scored... And the skill of Oleg Naduda defeated Hapoel Jerusalem away and dropped it 3 places down; however, it isn't dangerous as for the points.
NEXT ROUND (in a fortnight): The top against the bottom - Beitar Jerusalem (1) vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv (14), and Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (2) vs Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (15). Also to mention - Hapoel Beer-Sheva (3) hosting Hapoel Beit-Shean (11), and Maccabee Haifa (6) playing away against Hapoel Taibe (16) in Umm-el-Fahm...
This Saturday no games will be held, as the National Team has to prepare to a very important home game against Cyprus, in WC'98 Preliminaries. And the National Team should find its inspiration in the great achievement of the Young National Team of Israel (before the age of 18) - this team reached the final stage of the European Championship, with just 8 teams. Playing in the elimination cycle against the very strong squad of Yugoslavia and losing the first game 2:3 away, it suffered at home from a penalty missed by Yossi Benayoun (21), but managed to score an important goal through Liron Vilner of Maccabee Netanya (35). Later, Guy Tsarfati was sent off after 44 minutes of play, but Israel managed to keep the net clean under an awful pressure of the guests; and during the last seconds of play, Ziv Kabeda's goal pass found Yossi Benayoun inside the box, and the latter passed the keeper and rolled a sweet winner into an empty net. The former player of Ajax (nowadays in the young squad of Hapoel Beer-Sheva) will lead the National Team in Iceland, and we hope the achievement will be continued there in the final stage of the European Championship.
Hapoel Kefar-Saba - BEITAR JERUSALEM 0:1 (0:0).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: Nir Sevilla (81).
THE BEST: David Amsalem, defender, Beitar Jerusalem.
HAPOEL RISHON LE-ZION - Hapoel Beer-Sheva 2:1 (0:0).
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Hosts: Moshe Sebeg (54), Tal Bnaya (61).
Guests: Shai Holtzman (87 pen).
THE BEST: Moshe Sebeg, midfielder, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion.
HAPOEL PETAKH-TIKWA - Hapoel Taibe 3:0 (2:0).
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Hosts: Andrei Christophick (2), Yaniv Offri (20), Eli Abrabanel (89).
Guests: -.
THE BEST: Ilan Boaron, defender, Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa.
Hapoel Tsafririm Holon - MACCABEE PETAKH-TIKWA 0:1 (0:0).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: Offer Shitrit (69).
THE BEST: Offer Shitrit, forward, Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa.
HAPOEL TEL-AVIV - Maccabee Tel-Aviv 2:1 (1:0).
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Hosts: Nissim Avitan (45), Sergei Pogodin (49).
Guests: OG (Sharon Mimer, 53).
THE BEST: Shavit Elimelekh, keeper, Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
MACCABEE HAIFA - Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 2:1 (1:1).
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Hosts: Hezi Shirazi (13), Haim Silbas (74).
Guests: Ronen Tsafrir (6).
THE BEST: Haim Silbas, midfielder, Maccabee Haifa.
On the 14th minute Alon Mizrahi (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) missed a penalty
kick - Nir Davidovich saved.
HAPOEL BEIT-SHEAN - Hapoel Haifa 3:0 (1:0).
---------------------------------------------
Hosts: Sergen Culakovic (47), Udi Shnorman (57), Shimon Danan (77).
Guests: -.
THE BEST: Sergen Culakovic, forward, Hapoel Beit-Shean.
Hapoel Jerusalem - MACCABEE HERZLIYA 0:1 (0:0).
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Hosts: -.
Guests: Oleg Naduda (52).
THE BEST: Oleg Naduda, midfielder, Maccabee Herzliya.
THE WEEK'S TEAM:
----------------
Shavit Elimelekh
(Hapoel Tel-Aviv)
Felix Halfon Meir Azran Roman Pets Ilan Boaron
(Hapoel Tel-Aviv) (Rishon le-Zion) (Tsafririm Holon) (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa)
Moshe Sebeg Udi Shnorman Oleg Naduda Haim Silbas
(Rishon le-Zion) (Hapoel Beit-Shean) (Maccabee Herzliya) (Maccabee Haifa)
Offer Shitrit Sergen Culakovic
(Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) (Hapoel Beit-Shean)
Hapoel Beit-Shean, Hapoel Rishon le-Zion, Hapoel Tel-Aviv - 2.
Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa, Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa, Maccabee Haifa,
Maccabee Herzliya, Hapoel Tsafririm Holon - 1.
PLACE TEAM G W T L Goals Points
1 (1) Beitar Jerusalem 26 19 4 3 54-16 61
2 (3) Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa 26 16 6 4 47-25 54
3 (2) Hapoel Beer-Sheva 26 17 2 7 41-23 53
4 (5) Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa 26 13 7 6 37-21 46
5 (4) Maccabee Tel-Aviv 26 13 6 7 45-28 45
6 (8) Maccabee Haifa 26 9 9 8 31-28 36
7 (6) Hapoel Kefar-Saba 26 10 6 10 28-28 36
8 (7) Hapoel Haifa 26 10 5 11 28-30 35
9 (9) Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv 25* 9 6 10 25-31 33
10 (11) Hapoel Beit-Shean 26 8 6 12 24-27 30
11 (12) Maccabee Herzliya 26 9 3 14 17-24 30
12 (13) Hapoel Rishon le-Zion 26 8 6 12 29-44 30
13 (10) Hapoel Jerusalem 26 8 5 13 26-37 29
14 (14) Hapoel Tel-Aviv 26 5 9 12 15-26 24
15 (15) Hapoel Tsafririm Holon 26 4 9 13 15-34 21
16 (16) Hapoel Taibe 25* 4 1 20 14-54 13
* - missing game
IN BRACKETS - the places of the teams before this week.
BEST PLAYER: Shavit Elimelekh, keeper, Hapoel Tel-Aviv.
TOP SCORERS: Offer Shitrit (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 15(3) 1
Alon Mizrahi (Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv) 15(6)
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Moti Kakun (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 14(4)
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Eli Ohana (Beitar Jerusalem) 13(1)
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Yaniv Offri (Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa) 12(0) 1
Itzhak Zohar (Beitar Jerusalem) 12(3)
Avi Nimni (Maccabee Tel-Aviv) 12(4)
*********************************************************
Istvan Salloi (Beitar Jerusalem) 10(0)
Shai Holtzman (Hapoel Beer-Sheva) 10(4) 1(1)
*********************************************************
Guy Itzhak (Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa) 9(0)
Yaniv Avvargeal (Hapoel Kefar-Saba) 9(3)
NOTE - the penalties scored are put in brackets. The last
column means the number of goals scored this week.
THE NEXT ROUND (in a fortnight):
| Hosts | Guests |
| Beitar Jerusalem (1) | Hapoel Tel-Aviv (14) |
| Hapoel Petakh-Tikwa (2) | Hapoel Tsafririm Holon (15) |
| Hapoel Beer-Sheva (3) | Hapoel Beit-Shean (10) |
| Hapoel Haifa (8) | Maccabee Petakh-Tikwa (4) |
| Maccabee Tel-Aviv (5) | Hapoel Jerusalem (13) |
| Hapoel Taibe (16) | Maccabee Haifa (6) |
| Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv (9) | Hapoel Kefar-Saba (7) |
| Maccabee Herzliya (11) | Hapoel Rishon le-Zion (12) |
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