Maccabi Haifa blanked Bnei Sakhnin 3-0 to take the 3-points and the win at an empty Sammy Ofer Stadium due to the Home Front Command regulations. The Greens grabbed an early lead off an Abu Nil own goal in the 25th minute while Dean David doubled the advantage off a poor clearance by the Sakhnin keeper to give Barak Bachar’s squad a 2-0 lead by the 62nd minute. Dia Saba scored in second half injury time marker as Haifa crushed to the victory.

“At the end of the day, we were able to score a lot of goals and we created a lot of situations,” Bachar said. “It’s a good result and we didn’t concede for the 5th game in a row while scoring 15 goals, but it’s hard to judge everyone’s abilities. it’s hard to put it together a team and create momentum considering the conditions that we are playing in.”

“It’s a shame we weren’t brave enough to win this game.” Sakhnin coach Slobodan Drapic said. “We lacked in the every 50-50 ball situation and we didn’t win balls. We pressed in the second half which improved our play but we should have done that the whole game. I saw that we weren’t there from the final training session and it’s a shame we gave up on his game. We have a game against Beitar in two days and we will prepare very well for it.”

Beitar Jerusalem and Kiryat Shemona played to a 1-1 draw as the sides split the points in the capital city. Nadav Nidam gave the visiting northerners a shock 1-0 lead in the 25th minute and could have doubled their lead in the 45th minute via the penalty spot, but Eyad Habshi’s spot kick was parried away by keeper Miguel Silva to keep the score as is. But Patrick Twumasi put home the ball in the 50th minute to draw the yellow-and-black even and split the points.

“I don’t like to talk about referees in general, but I have to bring it up,” Beitar coach Bark Itzhaki began. “The game should have been played out differently. Whistling such a penalty with such ease and adding only two minutes at the end of the game is tough. It’s not that we drew because of the refereeing and I understand that Kiryat Shemona is team that came into the game to sit back, but still I expect the referee to act differently and he could have added a minimum of eight or nine minutes.”

“Teddy, home crowd… I know the place, obviously having coached here before,” Kiryat Shemona coach Shay Barda began. “I think that in terms of our situations we were suckers, there is no other words to describe us. Beitar had more possession of the ball so I’m satisfied, I won’t lie, but we had situations where we could have finished the game. We had our opportunities we came with a certain game plan and went a little backwards, unlike the last games.”

Maccabi Petach Tikva slipped by Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-1 as Vitalie Damascan scored a brace in the victory. Guy Hadida gave Reineh an early 1-0 lead as Kayes Ganem sent the striker a perfect ball to help the visitors go in front by the 14th minute. However, a handball in the box during first half injury time saw Damascan score his first from the penalty spot to help Petach Tikva draw even while the Moldovan handed the hosts the win by finding the back of the goal in the 89th minute and close out the win.

“After a loss, the best medicine is a win and that’s what happened here,” Dan Roman, Petach Tikva had coach said. “I have to take my hat off to the guys for pulling it off. There were difficult moments in the second half but I think in the first half we played well. We need to build confidence, I do see that we are making progress on a tactical level and we also had a good game last week, tactically, but we paid for the mistakes we made. What’s important is the process, the victories bring confidence and that’s what we want to see.”

“I want to wish that all of the hostages will return home and that this referee won’t be doing any of our games for the rest of the season,” Reineh head coach Sharon Mimer commented on the refereeing. “Since last year he has hurt us and I pray each round that he is not going to referee our games. I cannot accept the arrogance of this referee. We all work hard in football and biggest wish for the new year is that he isn’t assigned to any more of our games.

Hapoel Hadera and Ironi Tiberias drew 1-1 as each team took a point for their efforts. Hadera had a chance to take an early lead via Itzik Shoolmayster’s but the spot kick was saved by Daniel Tenenbaum to keep the score as is. However, just ahead of halftime Ben Vahaba’s handball sent Ibrahim Sangare to the penalty sort which he converted to give Hadera a 1-0 lead. In the 78th minute Tiberias found the equalizer thanks to Haroon Shapso as each squad took a point.

“This was not a big game by us,” Tiberias coach Eliran Hodeida said. “With the exception of Hadera’s two penalties, I don’t remember our goalkeeper having to make any bigs saves. We didn’t deserve to lose in any way shape or form. In the first half we didn’t find enough offensive solutions, we didn’t play fast and smart enough, but in the second half we were dominant. The substitutes came in really well and brought energy. The draw is reflective of this game and it’s also good for us.”

“There are periods of time when things get very difficult and complicated and this is such a time,” Hadera coach Haim Silvas said. “I have been around for many years to know that these types of periods can be overcome with strength. We conceded from the only real opportunity Tiberias had and we also missed a penalty, things are getting more difficult. We need to be strong and in the end we will overcome the challenges that we have been facing.”

Hapoel Haifa took a hard fought 1-0 win over Ashdod as Guy Melamed scored the lone goal of the contest with a trike in the 54th minute to give the Carmel reds the points and the win.

“Ashdod came into the game after having beaten Hadera 3-0 and we are exactly the opposite,”Haifa coach Roni Levy said. “In the first half we defended well, in the second half we improved and were more accurate with the ball. We scored a goal with a very nice attack. I’m satisfied with the result, in our league it’s important that we win these games.”

“I said before the game – it’s a very tough challenge for us,” Ashdod bench boss Eli Levy said. “I think what characterized us in the previous games was our fighting spirit and staying in the game until the end. We created some chances but we couldn’t score.”