Beersheba held to goalless draw by Ra’anana

Two of the day’s five scheduled matches were postponed due to the storm that struck Israel in recent days.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Beersheba soccer (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hapoel Beersheba soccer
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hapoel Beersheba failed to return to the top of the Premier League standings on Saturday, while two of the day’s five scheduled matches were postponed due to the storm that struck Israel in recent days.
Beersheba could only manage a 0-0 draw against Hapoel Ra’anana at Vasermil Stadium, remaining in second place, one point behind Maccabi Tel Aviv, which hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv in the derby on Monday.
Maor Buzaglo registered Beersheba’s best chance of the frosty night in the 61st minute, but Ra’anana goalkeeper Gal Nir was up to the challenge and ensured his team snapped its two-match losing streak.
“We dominated Ra’anana for the entire second half, but struggled to create scoring opportunities,” said Beersheba coach Elisha Levy. “We did everything we could to win, but we didn’t make the right decisions in the final third.”
The matches between Bnei Sakhnin and Beitar Jerusalem and between Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Bnei Yehuda were postponed by the Israel Football Association on Friday night, with the IFA claiming that the police’s Northern District is busy dealing with the ramifications of the storm.
Beitar released a statement earlier Friday saying that the team will not show up for Saturday’s match as it has struggled to train in recent days.
The IFA claimed that Jerusalem’s threat was empty, but Beitar ultimately got its wish and the match was postponed to Tuesday.
The game between Kiryat Shmona and Bnei Yehuda will also take place on Tuesday.
Elsewhere Saturday, a 94th-minute equalizer by Danny Preda gave Maccabi Petah Tikva a 1-1 draw against Hapoel Haifa.
Haifa took the lead in the 51st minute through Ahad Azam.
Ashdod SC and Hapoel Acre drew 0-0 on Saturday, with floodlight failure delaying the start of the match and stopping it for 10 minutes in the first half.
On Monday, Maccabi Haifa hosts Hapoel Ramat Hasharon.