Maccabi Haifa goes atop standings with win over Hapoel Acre

The tragic Carmel fire meant that regardless of the result, Monday’s encounter was a somber occasion.

By ALLON SINAI
Rafaelov 311 (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Rafaelov 311
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Late goals by Lior Rafaelov and Yaniv Katan gave Maccabi Haifa a 3-1 victory over Hapoel Acre on Monday in a night of mixed emotions at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium.
While Haifa fans were delighted with their team’s first home win in five matches, the tragic Carmel fire meant that regardless of the result, Monday’s encounter was a somber occasion.
Only 6,000 fans, about half the amount that usually attends Haifa matches, came to watch the Greens, and they were extremely disappointed when their team created little to nothing in the first half, which ended at 0-0.
Four minutes into the second half matters would get worse for the hosts, with Oshri Gita beating ’keeper Nir Davidovich to Maharan Radi’s corner to head Acre into the lead.
However, Haifa would tie the score in the 63rd minute, with Mohammad Ghadir equalizing seconds after coming on as a substitute, tucking the ball into an empty net following Tomer Hemed’s excellent build up play.
Two minutes from time, Rafaelov clinched the points.
Goalkeeper Dudu Goresh saved Hemed’s volley, but Rafaelov was on hand to slot Haifa into the lead, and Katan wrapped up the scoring in injury time with an accurate penalty kick, sending the Greens back to first position.
Ironi Kiryat Shmona, which entered the day in first place, could only manage a 1-1 draw at Hapoel Beersheba Monday.