Local Soccer: Rafaelov raises Mac Haifa back to the top

In other action, Bnei Yehuda moves off the bottom with a well-deserved victory over Ashdod SC.

By JONNY HADI
Maccabi Haifa 224.88 (photo credit: Berney Ardov)
Maccabi Haifa 224.88
(photo credit: Berney Ardov)
Maccabi Haifa overtook Maccabi Netanya to go top of the table on Saturday afternoon, but was made to work hard to beat a boisterous Bnei Sakhnin 1-0 at Doha Stadium. The first half was extremely disappointing as a spectacle, with Sakhnin's Okocha the only shining light. The Ghanaian nearly gave the home side the lead in the 28th minute after he wriggled past Haifa's John Culma and Leonard Krupnik on the left of the area, but his curling shot sailed inches wide of the far post. The game came to life immediately after the break though. Haifa's on-form Thembinkosi Fanteni picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area and chipped it delightfully across to Lior Rafaelov. Haifa's midfield maestro beat Sakhnin defender Ali Ottman and fired the ball low inside the far post with his left foot. Sakhnin battled valiantly to try and get back into the game and Haifa had keeper Amir Edri to thank for the three points. On the hour mark, Sakhnin midfielder Yehiel Tzagai burst through the middle and played in Khaled Khalaila, who skipped past Dekel Keinan's challenge and stabbed the ball towards goal with the outside of his foot. The ball seemed destined to nestle into the corner of the net, but Edri dived low to his left and expertly kept out the Sakhnin man's effort. Three minutes from time, Sakhnin striker Oshri Gita let fly with a volley from the edge of the area, but Edri soared across his goal and palmed the ball over the bar with his right hand. Maccabi Tel Aviv 0, Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan 0 On Saturday afternoon's showing, Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Ran Ben Shimon has his work cut out if he is to have any hope of transforming him team into a title challenger. Despite an abundance of possession, chances were few and far between for the home team, which found it difficult to break down a solid Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan that looked dangerous on the break throughout. Maccabi was wasteful with the opportunities that did come its way. Hakoach keeper Robert Badjie easily saved a Maor Buzaglo header on 17 minutes and Ilya Yavruyan stabbed the ball wide with only the keeper to beat moments later, after a great pass by Guillermo Yisraelovich. Three minutes later, Tel Aviv keeper Dragoslav Jevric did well to save a Michael Tukura shot after Daniel Unger burst through on the break, and the keeper had to be at his best on 28 minutes to keep a Ken Jammeh free-kick at bay. Just after the interval, the away side had a glorious opportunity to take the lead. Jevric raced out of his area to clear a long punt forward, but the impressive Ive Jide beat him to the ball. However the Nigerian's lob bounced wide of the empty net. Maccabi's best chance came after 53 minutes. Rudy Hadad found himself one-on-one with Badjie after being played thought brilliantly by Maor Buzaglo, but the Tel Aviv substitute's misplaced shot was easily saved by the Hakoach keeper. With ten minutes to play, Yavruyan shot over after Yannick Kanaman flicked on a long ball to the Armenian, but it was Hakoach that could have won the game at the death. In the 90th minute, Omer Rapps raced clear down the right and his cross found its way to Unger, who blazed the ball over the bar. Then, in injury time, Jevric saved the home side's blushes when his wonderful flying stop kept out an audacious 30-meter effort from Hakoach substitute Idan Weitzman. Maccabi Netanya 0, Hapoel Tel Aviv 0 Netanya was slightly the superior side and had the better chances, but lacked urgency and failed to delight the noisy home crowd. Lothar Mattheus's men had a great chance to take the lead after 18 minutes. George Ba dribbled past Hapoel keeper Vincent Enyeama after he was played in by Itai Shechter, but the Ivorian's tame effort from a tight angle was off target. After 33 minutes, Netanya's Shalev Menashe won the ball bravely in midfield, surged forward and played it through to Ba. However, the Netanya striker rushed his effort and Enyeama made a comfortable save. On the stroke of half-time, Dedi Ben Dayan curled in a splendid 25-meter shot with the outside of his left foot, but the Netanya defender's effort flew inches over the bar. After 69 minutes, Ben Dayan's deep cross found Daniel Humberto, but the Brazilian headed over disappointingly from close range. The home side continued to dominate possession, but its football was devoid of any real skill or imagination and its hopeful crosses were easily dealt with by the solid Hapoel defense. Maccabi Petah Tikva 2, Ironi Kiryat Shmona 1 The Maccabi Petah Tikva players appear to have put the woes of the last campaign behind them. The team that narrowly avoided relegation last season moved up to third on Saturday after coming from behind to beat Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Ironi took the lead after only four minutes. Defender Ran Kojok played the ball to Yuval Avidor and the Israel Under-21 striker skillfully turned past Petah Tikva's Murad Megamadov and smashed the ball into the top corner from just inside the box. Ironi nearly extended its lead ten minutes into the match, but Abbas Suan's 20-meter shot crashed against the crossbar. Petah Tikva equalized after 19 minutes. Naor Peser played the ball forward to Argentine Pablo Bastianini, who controlled it on his chest and sent a spectacular shot into the net. The home side scored the winner in the 65th minute. Bastianini crossed the ball into the area and Lior Asulin found the bottom corner of the net with a terrific header. Bnei Yehuda 1, Ashdod SC 0 Bnei Yehuda finally has a league win under its belt. Guy Luzon's men moved off the bottom of the table after a well-deserved victory against Ashdod SC at Bloomfield Stadium. The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half-time when midfielder Liroi Zeiri headed in a superb Kfir Edri cross.