Hozez, Hapoel Haifa too much for Sakhnin

Hapoel Haifa took apart Bnei Sakhnin 4-0 in the Galilee town thanks to a Matan Hozez hat-trick in Israel Premier League action this week. The Carmel Reds are now undefeated in their last nine matches while Sakhnin has collected only two points out of a possible 24 having not won in eight contests. Hozez scored his first two goals just a minute apart. The striker took a Radu Ginsari pass in the 42nd minute and beat Mahmoud Kandil, and followed that up by finding the back of the net again thanks to a tremendous through ball by Nes Zamir as the visitors went into the break ahead 2-0. Hozez finished off his hat trick with a 76th-minute strike into the corner of the Sakhnin goal, while Maxim Plakuschenko scored the fourth goal to seal the victory. Following the match Sakhnin coach Amir Turgeman was relieved of his duties. “This was the best match of my senior career,” said an excited Hozez after the match. “I also had a hat trick in the Leumit League, but you can't compare the two. We prepared well and our coach Sharon Mimer showed us exactly what type of formation they would be playing. We did what we had to do.” Elsewhere, Maccabi Tel Aviv slipped by Beitar Jerusalem 1-0 at the Netanya Stadium. Dor Micha tapped in a second-half goal to secure the victory for Vladimir Ivic's squad. The yellow-and-blue outplayed the visitors throughout the 90 minutes, but Yossi Benayoun had a chance to draw the capital city side even in stoppage time. However, a brilliant stop by 'keeper Predrag Rajkovic saved the day as Maccabi collected the three points and increased its lead atop the table to 18 points ahead of second-place Bnei Yehuda. Ivic praised his squad following the win. “I have to give congratulations to my players as they had a very good game. They fought from the first to the last second of the game like a team and we deserved the three points,” said Ivic Hapoel Beersheba traveled up to Maccabi Petah Tikva and took home a 3-1 win. Hanan Maman scored a brace for Barak Bachar's squad to give the Southern Reds 28 points and currently a place in the Championship Playoffs. Arik Sabo scored via a header thanks to an Oren Bitton pass in the 17th minute, and Beersheba doubled its advantage before the break when Bitton recorded his second assist of the evening, this time to Maman. A 66th-minute penalty was converted by Maman for his second goal of the night, and while Petah Tikva pulled back a late marker by youngster Liran Rutman it was too little, too late. Following the match Guy Luzon signed on to take over the reins at Petah Tikva as its new head coach. Kiryat Shmona defeated Hapoel Hadera 3-1 up north thanks to a pair of second-half goals by the hosts. Hadera took a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute via a Lucio penalty after Jorge Morcillo was pulled down in the box by Kiryat Shmona 'keeper Dziugas Bartkus. But Tomer Kashtan's squad found the equalizer six minutes later when Ismaeel Ryan's perfect cross from the left side was headed in by Shimon Abuhatzira. Ryan then found the back of the goal in the 80th minute to give the northerners a 2-1 advantage when he beat second choice 'keeper Omer Hanin, who had come into the contest earlier in the half for an injured Austin Ejide. Hadji Barry scored the third marker deep into injury time to wrap up the three points. Ashdod and Hapoel Tel Aviv drew 1-1 in the port city. After a goalless first half, the Reds took a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute when Joseph Ganda slotted home the ball off a Ramzi Sfuri assist. In the 75th minute Orel Dagani was issued a red card after receiving his second yellow, while four minutes later Gadi Kinda received one as well to reduce both sides to 10 men. Guy Bardea scored from inside the box thanks to a terrific corner by Dan Bitton in the 81st minute as the host's were able to split the points. Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Ra'anana drew 0-0 at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa as the Greens' five-match winning streak under Marko Balbul came to a halt following last week's 2-0 win at Hapoel Beersheba. For Menachem Koretzky's Ra'anana, it was its fifth straight match without a win. Bnei Yehuda and Maccabi Netanya's contest at the Netanya Stadium also ended in a goalless 0-0 draw as Yossi Abuksis's side is now winless in four straight matches.

Hozez, Hapoel Haifa too much for Sakhnin

Arik Sabo scored via a header thanks to an Oren Bitton pass in the 17th minute.

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Hozez, Hapoel Haifa too much for Sakhnin

Arik Sabo scored via a header thanks to an Oren Bitton pass in the 17th minute.

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