Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Bnei Sakhnin 3-2 as they took the points and remained atop the table. Roy Revivo and Eran Zahavi helped team up to get the ball to Gaby Kanichowsky who scored in the 3rd minute to give the yellow-and-blue an early 1-0 lead. An own goal by Muhammed Abu Nil off a Dor Peretz attempt doubled the advantage while Zahavi scored in the 70th minute to give Maccabi a 3-0 lead. However, Ilay Elmkies pulled a goal back five minutes later and Muhamed Shaker scored in the 82nd minute to get to within a single strike. But that would be as close as the hosts would come as Robbie Keane’s squad recorded the victory.

“I wanted a clean sheet and we were 3-0 up and cruising,” Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Robbie Keane began. “We switched off after 70 minutes and we need to rectify that as it shouldn’t be a game where we are hanging on at the end. The decision making wasn’t right and I wasn’t happy with the two goals.”

“I believe that Maccabi played much better than us,” Sakhnin coach Slobodan Drapic commented. “I want to commend the guys for getting back into the game with a pair of goals and I have to really give credit to the players, the young ones that are playing their first minutes in the Premier League and gave it their all.”

Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem drew 1-1 to split the points by the Carmel Mountain. Yarden Shua’a 20th minute penalty gave the yellow-and-black a first half 1-0 lead but Frantzdy Pierrot found the equalizer in the second half as each team took a point for their efforts.

“It’s been traditionally tough for us at Sammy Ofer Stadium,” Beitar head coach Yossi Abuksis said. “If new would have been more focussed we could have won this game. They are a terrific team and we earned an important point. This was our third game in a week and we were pretty exhausted.”

“This was very disappointing and it was a draw that feels like a loss,” Haifa coach Messay Dego said. “We were the better team from the first moment of the game and that break gave them that penalty and goal early on. I don’t want to make up excuses but our foreign players have had a tough go.”

Hapoel Haifa slipped by Hapoel Jerusalem 1-0 as second half substitute Oded Checkol scored in the 65th minute to take the 3-points for the Carmel Reds.

“We came into a tough game against a very difficult opponent,” Haifa head coach Roni Levy began. “We want to dedicate the game to those being held hostage. We are working hard and we deserved this win. We have three games this week and the entire roster will be used. The Derby against Maccabi Haifa is coming up and they are a quality side.”

“This was a 0-0 game and it was a real battle,” Hapoel Jerusalem bench boss Ziv Arie said. “But we made a mistake as we usually do and we conceded a goal. It was a weak game by both teams, errors as well, but ultimately I am 100% responsible to what is happening with the club.”

Maccabi Netanya’s Ahmad Salman scored deep into second half stoppage time to secure a 1-0 win over Hapoel Beer Sheva.