Local Soccer: Mac TA aims to kick it up a notch after so-so start

A mediocre start to the team's campaign has already got many of the club's fans concerned.

By ALLON SINAI
Maccabi TA soccer 248.88 (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Maccabi TA soccer 248.88
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Maccabi Tel Aviv will look to rebound from last week's disappointing home draw against Maccabi Petah Tikva when it visits Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday. Ran Ben-Shimon's team was widely regarded as the biggest threat to Betar Jerusalem's reign ahead of the season, but a mediocre start to its campaign, which has seen the side win just one of its first three matches, has already got many of the club's fans concerned. Maccabi will be without coach Ben-Shimon on Saturday after the Israel Football Association Court banned him for two matches in response to his outburst at a linesman during his side's match against Betar two weeks ago. Even without its inspirational leader, however, the yellow-and-blue will have an ideal opportunity to return to winning ways on Saturday. Sakhnin has yet to score a goal this season and has looked nothing like the team which finished in fourth position last season. The team's two best players, Maor Buzaglo and Ilya Yavruyan, left for Maccabi in the summer and will be coming up against their former side for the first time on Saturday. Hapoel Tel Aviv will try and finally end a league match as a winner on Saturday when it hosts Hapoel Petah Tikva. Tel Aviv has drawn all three of its matches to date and has played extremely poorly. Petah Tikva will be entering the match in high spirits after claiming its first victory since making a return to the Premier League, defeating Ashdod SC 2-1 last week. Lothar Matthaus and his Maccabi Netanya team will aim to maintain their place atop of the standings with a home victory over Ashdod on Saturday. Also Saturday, Maccabi Petah Tikva hosts Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan and Ironi Kiryat Shmona visits Bnei Yehuda. On Sunday, Betar Jerusalem will look to build on last week's 4-2 win at Ramat Gan when its hosts Maccabi Haifa.