Local Soccer: Betar J'lem faces must win game at Ashdod

Team's title defense is in danger of going completely off-track if Betar fails to defeat Ashdod SC on the road on Saturday.

By ALLON SINAI
betar champs 224 88 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
betar champs 224 88
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Betar Jerusalem's title defense is in danger of going completely off-track if the team fails to defeat Ashdod SC on the road on Saturday. The two-time defending Premier League champion has won just once in its six matches to date and had to settle for a disappointing 2-2 draw with Hapoel Petah Tikva last week at Teddy Stadium. Coach Reuven Atar is already starting to feel the pressure, but said he is confident his players can break out of their slump on Saturday. "There's a lot of insecurity in the team, but I believe in my players," Atar said on Thursday. "Some of our players aren't used to being in this situation after so much success in the last couple of seasons. The easiest thing to do is give up, but I trust my players will take responsibility for their current form." Ashdod coach Yossi Mizrahi knows all about the difficulty of being Betar coach, having been sacked by Jerusalem just weeks after guiding the team to the league championship two seasons ago. On Saturday, however, Mizrahi will have no sympathy for Atar's current predicament, with Ashdod also in desperate need for the points after last week's loss to Bnei Yehuda. Ashdod has lost all four of its away matches so far this season, but worryingly for Betar has won both of its home games, the most recent being a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv. Encouraged from its draw at Teddy last week, Hapoel Petah Tikva hosts Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday in one of Israel's most hotly contested derby matches. Both sets of fans are especially looking forward to this encounter as there were no derby matches in Petah Tikva last year because Hapoel had been relegated to the National League. Maccabi is currently in third position, largely due to the fact that it has won three of its four home matches so far. Hapoel has won both of its two home matches to date and with both teams playing at their home stadium on Saturday the derby is guaranteed to be a cracking affair. Maccabi Netanya will look to go back to the top of the standings on Saturday, at least for 48 hours, when it visits Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan. League leader Maccabi Haifa only hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv on Monday, so as long as Netanya doesn't lose on Saturday it will be back on top. Also Saturday, Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Bnei Yehuda and Bnei Sakhnin visits Ironi Kiryat Shmona.