Fransman scores stunning long-range goal to give Matthaus's team 1-0 win over Mac TA.
By ALLON SINAIilya yavorian 224.88(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
An 88th minute screamer by South African Bevan Fransman gave Maccabi Netanya a precious 1-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv at National Stadium in Ramat Gan on Sunday night.
The match, which was played in Ramat Gan as the pitch at Bloomfield Stadium is being relaid, was a dreary affair for most of the 90 minutes.
But Fransman rescued the encounter by scoring a memorable goal, which will give Netanya a massive morale boost in its chase of a first league title in 25 years.
The three points take Lothar Matthaus's team back to the top of the standings and mean that, despite playing unimpressive soccer so far this season, Netanya has now won four of its first five matches.
Netanya goalkeeper and captain Liran Strauber was feeling positive after the game.
"I always said that one of the goals of this team is to win a championship," he told Channel 10.
Tel Aviv coach Ran Ben-Shimon, on the other hand, faces increased pressure after seeing his team fall to its first defeat of the season, especially as his expensive side has also only won two of its five league matches to date.
"It was frustrating to lose, especially at home," Ben-Shimon said. "I know that there was a drop in our performance in the second half. In the first half we did good things but these fans deserve better."
The hosts were more adventurous at the start of the match and very nearly took the lead in the seventh minute.
Defender Avi Yehiel released a thunderous volley from the edge of the area, only to be denied by an acrobatic save by the impressive Strauber.
Less than two minutes later, the Maccabi 'keeper was once more responsible for keeping the score level after keeping out Guillermo Israilevich's shot from the edge of the area with his feet.
As the first half progressed Tel Aviv's pace dropped and Netanya began to dominate the possession.
In the 31st minute, the visitors' pressure almost paid off when Shalev Menashe's free kick from the corner of the penalty box was only denied by the Tel Aviv crossbar.
As dull as the first half was, the level of play deteriorated even further in the second half.
Remarkably, both teams seemed content with a goalless draw and settled for defending, rarely pushing forward in search of a goal.
It looked as though the ball would only find the back of the net if one of the sides would make a mistake and that was very nearly the case in the 64th minute.
Igor Tomasic's horrible back pass almost gave Netanya the lead after goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric only just got his head to the ball and very almost turned it into his own net.
Ten minutes later, Netanya finally put together a good team move, but Dedi Ben-Dayan's swinging shot from 15 meters out went out off the upright.
Two minutes before stoppage time, however, the goal finally arrived thanks to some South African magic.
Ben-Dayan placed the ball in the path of Fransman and the defender scored the winner with a sensational strike from 25 meters out.
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