Local Soccer: Asulin gives Maccabi Petah Tikva derby win

In other action, Bnei Sakhnin moves off the bottom with a 2-1 win at Kiryat Shmona.

By JONNY HADI
maccabi petah tikva 88 (photo credit: )
maccabi petah tikva 88
(photo credit: )
A Lior Asulin goal gave Maccabi Petah Tikva a 1-0 victory in an entertaining derby against Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday afternoon. The first half began at a lightning pace with flying tackles and quick-fire passing from both sides. After three minutes, Hapoel keeper Shavit Elimelech tipped over an Ismael Amer sizzler, and Elimelech's opposite number, Ohad Cohen, then saved a M'Peti Nimba shot after a super dummy by Junior Viza. Both sides were denied by the woodwork in the closing stages of the first period. Six minutes before the interval, Hapoel's Shimon Abuhatzera controlled a Viza chip onto his chest and blasted the ball against the post with his left foot, and, in first-half stoppage time, Amer hit the bar with a cracking 25-meter drive. The winner came after 68 minutes. Shlomo Tzemah sent in an inviting cross from the right, Omer Buchsenbaum's shot was only parried by Elimelech and a gleeful Asulin knocked the ball into an empty net. Hapoel came close to equalizing 15 minutes from time, but a fabulous reflex save by Cohen denied Abuhatzera after Avi Reikan had curled a precise cross to the league's top scorer. Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan 1, Maccabi Netanya 2 A half-time change of strip seemed to do the trick for Maccabi Netanya. After a first half in which the two teams' kits clashed confusingly, Lothar Matthaus' men reverted to their familiar yellow shirts and the decision had almost immediate effect. Daniel Humberto found the top corner of the net with a flicked header from a Shalev Menashe free-kick nine minutes into the second half for the opening goal of the game. It came after a flat first period which will be remembered for one of the misses of all time by Hakoach striker Ive Jide, who struck a post in front of an empty net after Netanya keeper Liran Strauber had fluffed his clearance. Netanya improved immensely in the second half and deservedly doubled its lead two minutes from time. Hakoach's clumsy keeper, Roberto Badjie, brought down Humberto just inside the box and Ravid Gazal slotted home the ensuing spot kick. Hakoach scored a consolation goal with the last kick of the game when a Gal Levy shot looped in off Strauber after some great work down the right by Omer Rapps. Ashdod SC 1, Betar Jerusalem 2 Could Betar's title defense be back on track? Reuven Atar's side moved into the top half of the table on Saturday afternoon with a narrow victory at Ashdod. Betar began brightly and its persistent pressure paid off after 22 minutes. The impressive Aviram Baruchian found Idan Tal who played a precise pass to Barak Itzhaki inside the area. The Betar striker turned and, although his shot lacked power, Ashdod keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski could only parry it into the net. Itzhaki doubled his tally at the end of the first half when he picked up a long pass and sent a delicate chip over Szamotulski. Ashdod came out for the second half with all guns blazing and got back into the game after 57 minutes when a deep David Revivo corner was headed in at the far post by Idan Shriki. Betar's marking was suspect for the corner, but the two-time defending champion refused to lie down and should have restored its two-goal cushion on 63 minutes. Baruchian played a wonderful ball through to Idan Tal, but the former Everton man fluffed his effort when, after initially beating Szamotulski on the right of the area, he cut back back inside and shot over with his left foot. Hapoel Tel Aviv 2, Bnei Yehuda 0 Two late Samuel Yeboah goals gave Hapoel a deserved win and left its local rival languishing at the bottom of the table. The Ghanaian broke the deadlock in the 78th minute, heading the ball into an empty net after Maharan Lala had struck the inside of the post, following a great ball by midfielder Bibras Natkho. Yeboah sealed the victory in the last minute of the match, when he beat Kfir Edri to a long Lala clearance, sprinted beyond the Bnei Yehuda defense and gracefully chipped the ball over keeper Dele Aiyenugba. Ironi Kiryat Shmona 1, Bnei Sakhnin 2 Bnei Sakhnin recorded its first win of the season on Saturday afternoon and climbed off the bottom of the table. Bassam Ghanayim put the away side in front after 27 minutes when he found the net after some great interplay with Hamed Genayem. Yuval Avidor equalized for Ironi ten minutes before the break, heading home a Yuval Shabtai corner. However, Sakhnin got the winner with nearly an hour gone, when Oshri Gita broke down the right and sent in Mazuwa Nsumbu, who scored with a first-time shot.