Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 Hapoel Beer Sheva

Maccabi Tel Aviv showed who was boss in this crucial “game of the year” encounter as the home side thoroughly dominated the visiting Beer Sheva club 2-0. January transfer window acquisition Barack Badash has more than found his home in the Maccabi lineup scoring both goals and almost sealing Maccabi’s back-to-back championships. Coming over from Kiryat Shemona, Badash has been a central figure for Maccabi with Barack Yizthaki going to down to injury, Monas Dabour heading to Switzerland and Rada Prica been banged up. For the second straight year Maccabi’s technical director, Jordi Cryuff struck gold bringing in the striker frequently likened (at least in looks) to the iconic Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Last year he swooped in and grabbed Israeli sensation Eran Zahavi from Palermo in Italy which sealed the Blue & Yellows first Israel Ligat Ha’Al championship in 10 years. It looks like a 2nd championship in as many years may be the beginning of something very special for not only Maccavi but for Israel Football and it’s European and World standing.

Beitar Jerusalem 3-0 Maccabi Petach Tikva

Beitar & Petach Tikva came out and played a sluggish first half, but the Jerusalem side decided that teh 3 points to be earned were too valuable and turned on the offense scoring 3 goals in the second half to defeat the Luzonites. Yitzik Cohen opened the scoring at the 49th minute while Aviram Bruchian slotted home a penalty and youngster Omer Atzili scored his first goal of the year on a beauty of a strike to send the small crowd home happy. The win puts Beitar Jerusalem in good position to remain up and avoid relegation with 6 more matches to come.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-0 Maccabi Haifa

Hapoel Tel Aviv finally defeated Maccabi Haifa this season, pounding the Greens 4-0 while perhaps performing the best they have all season. Shai Abutbol opened the scoring 19 minutes in as Gili Vermut played the captain a nice ball to take the 1-0 lead. Shortly thereafter Israel Zaguri made it 2-0 in the 26th minute off a rebounded shot by Lukas Sasha and the rout was on. Next it was Omer Damari feeding Lukas Sasha who scored in the 49th minute this time on new keeper Bojan Sharanov who replaced injured Amir Edri at the half and Amar Fadida rounded out the win with his 1st goal at minute 85. Omer Damari picked up 2 assists and missed a penalty in the 65th minute, but regardless the Reds seemed to have finally put together a top notch effort to cement a European position for next year.

Hapoel Haifa 0-1 Bnei Yehuda

Could have the signing of Ohad Kadosi during the January transfer window save the season for Bnei Yehuda? It certainly could as Kadosi scored his 4th goal since coming back to Israel and helped move Bnei Yehuda put of relegation for the first time in a long time this year. Yossi Abuksis’s men took the lead in the 5th minute as Kadosi put in his 2nd chance of the game, the first coming in the 2nd minute but saved brilliantly by the Haifa keeper Kale. It seemed that Kadosi was all over the pitch with a number of great chances, but his one goal would stand up against Haifa and it’s coach Shlomi Dura.

Bnei Sakhnin 1-4 Hapoel Kiryat Shemona

Kiryat Shemona looks to have a strangle hold on the 3rd position in the league table after a convincing 4-1 win at Doha Stadium in Sakhnin. Mindaugus Panka opened the scoring for the visitors in the 4th minute but the hosts drew even at one in the 6th minute with a goal by Ala’a Abu-Saleh off a Hamad Ghanayim free kick. But after that it was all Kiryat Shemona with goals by Vladimir Brown (his 1st of the season) in the 16th minute, Yoel Kajanivich with his 1st of the year in the 33rd minute and David Manga with a 92nd minute goal and the cherry on top.

Ashdod 0-1 Ramat HaSharon

Kenny Seif is a budding superstar as he yet scored another important goal, his 8th of the season to help Ramat HaSharon stay alive at the bottom of the table.

Hapoel Akko 1-1 Hapoel Raaana

The two sides split the points in Akko as the hosts scored on a Juliano Spadacia 41st minute penalty and Raz Cohen evens the scored at one with a goal for Raanana in the 86th minute.