Beitar Jerusalem 1:0 Hapoel Akko

Elad Gabbay’s 93rd minute goal snatched the three points for Beitar Jerusalem as the right back’s effort kept the home side in third place just 2 points away from Hapoel Beer Sheva. Chances were at a minimum during the first half with both keepers having very little work to do as the sides battled in the midfield.m

To begin the second half, Jerusalem coach Slobodan Drapic made a couple of substitutions in order to ignite the stagnant offense bringing in Danny Preda and captain Omer Atzili. The changes allowed Beitar to control the tempo of the final 45 minutes with a number of chances but none able to get past Akko keeper Dani Amos.

That was until the 93rd minute when Elad Gabbay’s marvelous maneuver in the Akko box off an Atzili pass, led to his fabulous left footed strike putting the ball to the right of the goal past a diving Amos and giving Beitar Jerusalem the 3-points and the win. Jerusalem will visit Maccabi Petach Tikva and at the Moshava Stadium next Saturday night.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 0:3 Maccabi Haifa

Not exactly the debut that Guy Levy wanted to have with the Reds as they fall at “home” in the Netanya Stadium to The Greens of Haifa. A brace by Dekel Keinan and a goal by Dutch striker Glynor Plet did in Hapoel adding to the frustration surrounding the club.

Maccabi Netanya 1:3 Hapoel Raanana

New coach, same old rssult for Netanya as Reuven Atar’s first match in charge for the fifth time around ends in defeat against the club their share the same facility with. Netanya entered the match looking for a new direction after dismissing Shlomi Dure three weeks ago, but a lone goal by Momodou Ceeaay would not be enough against Haim Silvas’s club. In the 13th minute Raanana’s Rene Mihelic served up a brilliant corner kick that Ben Vehaba headed into the Netanya goal for a 1:0 lead.

Ceesay evened up the score before halftime for Netanya in the 43rd minute but two crucial 2nd half subs would help Raanana to the win. Silvas introduced Saar Benbenishti and Barak Badash who combined on the latter’s 3rd goal of the season in the 71st minute to give the visitors a 2:1 lead. Eli Babayev added a late 87th minute insurance goal good for Raanana to take the 3-points and make Atar and Netanya wait for his first win this time around as coach.

Bnei Yehuda 0:0 Hapoel Beer Sheva

Beer Sheva fell out of first place drawing away against Bnei Yehuda 0:0 at the Herzliya Stadium. After a dull first half, Beer Sheva coach Barak Bachar changed tactics and brought on striker Shlomi Arbeitman for midfielder Ovidiu Huban, however the substitute didn’t help matters as Bnei Yehuda held Beer Sheva and dropped them into 2nd place with 23 points two points behind Maccabi Tel Aviv who sit in first with 25 points. The away side tried to find the winner by sending deep balls into Bnei Yehuda keeper Dele Aiyenugba’s box but time and time again the defense were able to clear the danger to earn a point and move up to a tie for 5th place on the table.

Kiryat Shemona 0:1 Maccabi Petach Tikva

Ran Ben Shimon’s team ended a six game winless streak in the north defeating Kiryat Shemona on a 51st minute goal by striker Oz Peretz. Petach Tikva hadn’t won since Matchday Four after starting the season like a house on fire with four straight victories.

Hapoel Kfar Saba 1:0 Bnei Sakhnin

Kfar Saba picked up the win on an 89th minute goal by Ran Itzhak who headed in a terrific pass by Omer Padida to take the three points against a disppointed Sakhnin. The victory propelled Kfar Saba above Sakhnin by one point and now sit in 9th place.