Beitar back on track with nervy victory

Beitar Jerusalem edged Maccabi Petah Tikva 1-0 at Teddy Stadium on Sunday night, snapping a six-match winless streak.

By ALLON SINAI
Beitar Jerusalem's Dominik Glavina 370 (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Beitar Jerusalem's Dominik Glavina 370
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Beitar Jerusalem edged Maccabi Petah Tikva 1-0 at Teddy Stadium on Sunday night, snapping a six-match winless streak.
Itzik Cohen scored the only goal of the game in the 70th minute after Beitar survived a first-half onslaught.
Coach Roni Levy’s first victory since taking charge three weeks ago was also Beitar’s first since the beginning of November, taking the club up to 10th place.
Petah Tikva remained in 12th place, just a single point above Hapoel Ramat Hasharon and the relegation zone, after failing to win for the ninth time in its past 10 matches.
On Monday, Hapoel Beersheba will aim to close back within four points of league-leader Maccabi Tel Aviv when it visits Hapoel Tel Aviv at Bloomfield Stadium.
Beersheba is brimming with confidence after going unbeaten in its past eight matches, winning five of its past seven games, while conceding just a single goal over its past six contests.
Tel Aviv, on the other hand, is hoping to kick-start its season, after winning just one of its past six games. Tel Aviv currently finds itself in seventh place, 12 points behind Beersheba, and enters Monday’s showdown still reeling from last week’s humbling 4-0 thrashing at Bnei Sakhnin.
“A road match against Hapoel Tel Aviv is always difficult,” said Beersheba coach Elisha Levy. “We will be coming up against a tough team with a strong support and this will be another test for us. I don’t think there is a favorite in this match and I hope we are determined and ready to take all three points.”