Mac Haifa continues resurgence under Benado
12/03/2012 00:37
Greens continue revival under new coach Arik Benado, beating Hapoel Haifa 3-0 in the derby at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.
Maccabi Haifa celebrates derby win Photo: Uzi Gal
Maccabi Haifa continued its revival under new coach Arik Benado on Sunday night,
beating Hapoel Haifa 3-0 in the derby at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium for its second
straight win.
Benado was named as Reuven Atar’s full-time replacement
last week with the Greens only having a single win to their name from 10
matches.
However, he has since guided the team to two victories in less
than a week, with Maccabi also beating Betar Jerusalem 2-1 last
Monday.
Benado’s men climbed to eighth place with the sweet triumph over
their crosstown rival, and suddenly find themselves just four points off
Jerusalem in fourth place.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” said a
delighted Benado. “We deserved this win because we were the better team
throughout the match. We hadn’t won a derby in two years and this win is
dedicated to our fans. We have taken another step towards the top of the
standings and we are hoping to continue this way.”
Maccabi controlled the
possession in the first half, but it had to wait until the 59th minute to take
the lead.
Hen Ezra did all the hard work before laying the ball off for
Eyal Golasa, who scored his first league goal in nine months.
A
goalkeeping howler by Tvrtko Kale gifted the visitors the second goal of the
night in the 74th minute, with Weeam Amasha completing the simple task of
rolling the ball into the empty net.
Ezra scored the goal he deserved two
minutes later and ensured the Greens found the back of the net three times in
one match for the first time this season.
On Monday, Hapoel Tel Aviv
visits third-placed Ashdod SC, with the Reds needing to win by four clear goals
to leapfrog Maccabi Tel Aviv back into first place on goal
difference.
Earlier Sunday, a 44-year-old Betar Jerusalem fan from Bnei
Brak was barred from entering soccer stadiums for three years by the Jerusalem
Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to throwing a lighter during last
Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Maccabi Haifa that hit linesman Amihai Moses and delayed
the match at Teddy Stadium for several minutes.
The Israel Football
Association disciplinary court handed Betar a NIS 70,000 fine and sentenced the
team to host its next two matches away from Teddy last Thursday as a punishment
for the incident.