Betar fails to subdue Sakhnin

Coach Uri Malmilian claimed team could challenge for the Premier League title, but after seven matches Jerusalem has still got just one victory.

By ALLON SINAI
Beitar Jerusalem 311 (photo credit: Beitar Jerusalem Website)
Beitar Jerusalem 311
(photo credit: Beitar Jerusalem Website)
Betar Jerusalem’s crisis continued to deepen on Monday night after it could only manage a 0-0 draw against a struggling Bnei Sakhnin at Teddy Stadium.
Betar coach Uri Malmilian claimed his team could challenge for the Premier League title before the start of the season, but after seven matches Jerusalem has still got just one victory and its five points leave it languishing in 13th position in the standings.
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“We didn’t play well and our inability to score cost us,” said Malmilian after yet another bitterly disappointing performance by his side. “We are only seven matches into the season and I’m not under any pressure. Our goal is to play better and win and hopefully matters will improve soon.”
After a long absence, Betar owner Arkadi Gaydamak returned to Teddy.
Gaydamak, who arrived in Israel two weeks ago to face charges of fraud and money laundering at the Tel Aviv District Court after spending most of the past year in Moscow, said before the match that he sees no reason to sell the club at the moment.
He added he is pleased with the work done by chairman Itzik Kornfein, but surely he was very unhappy with the team’s display on the field.
Betar began well, pressuring Sakhnin across the park.
The hosts reached their first chance after seven minutes, but Samuel Yeboah miss hit his shot from 10 meters out and squandered a golden opportunity.
However, Jerusalem’s early initiative faded out far quicker than Malmilian had hoped and Sakhnin had little trouble keeping Betar at bay in the remainder of the half.
Jerusalem’s surges forward were far too slow and its inaccurate passing made Sakhnin’s life very easy.
Yeboah wasted another good chance on the brink of halftime when he shot across goal from two meters out, but Betar deserved no more than a goalless deadlock at the break.
Malmilian’s halftime talk seemed to have an effect on his team, with Betar finally showing some much-needed enthusiasm after the interval.
However, all it had to show for its early efforts was Avi Rikan’s ballooned shot three minutes into the second half and Jerusalem’s play seemed to deteriorate with every minute that passed.
The yellow-and-black would have one final chance to take all three points five minutes from time. However, after Sakhnin ’keeper Meir Cohen made a sublime save to keep out Yeboah’s half-volley, it was clear Betar was headed to another disappointing result.