Maccabi Haifa dropped Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 as Frantzdy Pierrot scored the winner just ahead of the halftime break to take the 3-points and the win. Sean Goldberg gave the Greens the lead in the 9th minute but Matan Hozez drew the Capital City Reds even twenty minutes later from the penalty spot. However, Pierrot put home a rebound in the 44th minute to put Messay Dego’s team in front for good as they picked up the victory.

“There was pressure coming in after having drawn twice,” Dego began. “I told the guys that we my not play great but we have to make sure that we collect the 3-points. We played against a very good and organized club and I am happy that we did what needed to. The gap to Maccabi Tel Aviv dropped to 8 points and I believe that every league game is up to us and how we come in including this week’s upcoming game against Maccabi.”

As usual I’m disappointed once again in a game against Maccabi Haifa,” Jerusalem coach Ziv Arie said. “Just like in the first game versus Haifa we got a bit too comfortable controlling the ball easily and that made us soft. Our defense in the final third didn’t have enough patience.”

Hapoel Hadera surprised Maccabi Tel Aviv holding the yellow-and-blue to a 1-1 draw. Elad Madmon stunned Maccabi by giving Hadera an early 1-0 lead as Niso Avitan’s sward went into the break holding the slim advantage. Dor Turgeman found the equalizer in the 67th minute but the visitors were able to hold off a flurry of chances by the hosts to take a hard earned point.

“This was a very important game that wanted to go and win,” Maccabi Tel Aviv assistant head coach Rory Delap said in place of the suspended Robbie Keane who was serving a one game ban. “We didn’t look like that in the first half second half we did but it was disappointing to concede a goal. More pleased in the second half but we can improve in the final third, we are getting there but it wasn’t enough in this game.”

“The game plan worked very well for what our options were against Maccabi Tel Aviv,” Niso Avitan said. “The gap between the two teams is huge and the only for us to threaten Maccabi is with counter attacks which we did very well in the first half but not as good in the second. However, we took a very precious point in this matchup.”