Local Soccer: Hapoel Tel Aviv needs late equalizer at Ramat Gan

After the match coach Eli Gutman tried to brush aside any perceived problems but he will know there is need for much improvement.

By JEREMY LAST
Hapoel TA 298.88 (photo credit: AP)
Hapoel TA 298.88
(photo credit: AP)
Betar Jerusalem isn't the only Israeli Premier League club in some trouble. After putting in a positive European performance to defeat FK Vojvodina in the UEFA Cup last week Hapoel Tel Aviv returned to the form which caused so much heartache in the early part of last season in a 2-2 draw at newly promoted Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan on Monday night. After the match coach Eli Gutman tried to brush aside any perceived problems but he will know there is need for much improvement if the team in red is gong to put up a fight against French side Saint Etienne in the UEFA Cup first round in two weeks time. Also Monday the other promoted team Hapoel Petah Tikva played out a 0-0 draw at Ironi Kiryat Shmona. At Ramat Gan's Winter Stadium it was Hapoel which took the lead just 12 minutes into the encounter. Samuel Yeboah, who scored the opening goal in the 3-0 win over Vojvodina, volleyed in a Dimitar Telkiyiski corner with a wonderful deftness and the visitors appeared to be cruising. But while Hapoel went in at half time in the lead, two minutes after the restart the scores were level again when Gal Levy slotted home from 12 meters out. And 20 minutes later the home side took the lead through Barak Badash who scored from close range. However, it was not all over yet. Hapoel Tel Aviv revived themselves and eight minutes from the final whistle substitute Ben Luz popped up to save the day when he latched on to a cross from Shai Abutbul.