By ALLON SINAIHapoel Tel Aviv’s Dudu Biton and Beitar Jerusalem’s Cesar Arzo (photo credit: ADI AVISHAI)
Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv showed on Monday night exactly why they have struggled so desperately this season, drawing 1-1 at Teddy Stadium.Both teams once more lacked the quality and imagination that has resulted in their disappointing campaigns to date and neither deserved more than a single point.Beitar controlled the possession, but failed to create chances in the first half and Ramzi Safouri gave Hapoel the lead against the run of play in the 44th minute.Tal Kahila (70) at least ensured Beitar didn’t lose and the hosts came closer to the winner in the remainder of the match.Rumors were rife over the weekend that Beitar coach Menahem Koretzki would be sacked even before Monday’s match after falling out with owner Eli Tabib.However, he insisted that was never on the cards and apologized to the owner after the draw.“I don’t know where the rumors started,” said Koretzki. “I never said I was going to quit. Eli Tabib and I are mature enough to put our differences aside.”Beitar moved up to fourth place with the draw, but has just five wins from 18 matches this season. Hapoel climbed up to eighth, but remains only five points off the relegation zone.Roni Levy’s tenure at Maccabi Netanya got off to a perfect start on Monday with a 2-0 victory at Bnei Sakhnin.Levy joined the cash-stricken club last week after Yossi Mizrahi resigned following the team’s round of 32 State Cup exit at the hands of Ahi Nazareth of the National League.Netanya entered Monday just two points off the relegation zone, with the off-field distractions taking their toll on the pitch.Mizrahi already asked to leave the club a month ago, but agreed to continue and guide the team following owner Eli Segev’s pleas.However, Segev finally accepted the veteran coach’s resignation last week and shortly afterwards announced the signing of Levy.The 48-year-old had been out of work since leaving Beitar Jerusalem last summer and admitted that he followed his heart by deciding to return to the club at which he began his playing career 30 years ago.Levy couldn’t have asked for a better result on Monday, with Eran Levy’s deflected shot from 20 meters out in the 40th minute and Larry Kayode 52nd-minute strike clinching the three points.
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