Football Israel Ligat Ha’Al Championship/Relegation Rounds April 18-21, 2014

By Joshua Halickman

Apr 20, 2014 | 2013-14 Match Reviews

Bnei Sakhnin 2-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv

Bnei Sakhnin played an almost perfect match against the reigning champions and denied them a chance to move closer to clinching this season’s title on goals by Feras Mugrabi & Muhamed Ghadir. Maccabi Tel Aviv came out very lame against a club looking for a European berth and only scored a 90th minute penalty by Rada Prica.

Hapoel Haifa 1-0 Beitar Jerusalem

Hapoel Haifa finally earned a victory after 5 matches on a Yuval Abidor strike, while Roni Levy’s Beitar again faltered offensively with only a few games remaining. The win puts Haifa in position to maintain its standing in the Ligat Ha’AL and not get demoted to the Leumit League.

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Hapoel Kiryat Shemona 1-1 Hapoel Tel Aviv

After securing a place in the Israel State Cup Finals, Kiryat Shemona had a bit of a hangover Saturday drawing with Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-1 in Kiryat Shemona. Former Maccabi Tel Aviv youngster Roie Kehat scored his first of the season for the home side while Ran Yitzhak scored for the Reds. Branko Illic committed a foolish foul at the 87th minute that earned him a red card and will miss the next match, a derby against Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Maccabi Haifa 2-1 Hapoel Beer Sheva

Maccabi Haifa playing their home game on the road in Netanya due to a radius penalty defeated a struggling Hapoel Beer Sheva 2-1 you themselves are coming off a shocking Israel State Cup loss. Shoval Gozlan scored 40 seconds into the match for the Greens while Maor Bozaglo tied it up on a brilliant free kick. But it was Alon Turgeman’s classy touch goal from newcomer Eran Biton who was making his debut start for Maccabi that won the three points for embattled coach Arik Benado.

Hapoel Ramat HaSharon 4-1 Maccabi Petach Tikva

Petach Tikva took a 1-0 lead into the second half on a goal by Roie Dayan, but it was 55th minute substitute Yosef Abu Laben’s hat trick and Emir Hadzic’s 95th minute penalty that has almost assured Petach Tikva’s trip to the Leumit League and puts RHS in position to stay up in Ligat Ha’Al.

Bnei Yehuda 1-3 Hapoel Raanana

Bnei Yehuda took a nosedive in the standings back into the danger relegation zone losing convincingly to Raanana 3-1 at Bloomfield Stadium. Raanana took a lead on a Mamadou Thiam 3rd minute goal but Nes Zamir drew the clubs even before half time. But the second half saw all Raanana with goals by Raz Cohen & Anthony Nwakaeme to wrap up the away victory.