Bnei Yehuda holds Hap TA to 1-1 draw at Bloomfield

After netting four goals at Bloomfield twice over the previous week, Hapoel struggled to create scoring opportunities on Sunday and deserved no better than a draw.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dror Kashtan_311 (photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Dror Kashtan_311
(photo credit: Adi Avishai)
Hapoel Tel Aviv failed to make it two wins out of two on Sunday night, only managing a 1-1 draw with Bnei Yehuda in Premier League action at Bloomfield Stadium.
After netting four goals at Bloomfield twice over the previous week, Hapoel struggled to create scoring opportunities on Sunday and deserved no better than a draw.
The Reds were lucky to take the lead in the 53rd minute when Iyad Khutaba’s cross took a deflection off Kfir Edri’s head and looped into the back of the net, with goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba touching the ball but failing to push it over the crossbar.
However, Bnei Yehuda would equalize in the 78th minute, with Dino Ndlovu being brought down in the box by Salim Toama and Pedro Galvan stepping up to slot in the penalty and give the hosts their first point of the season after last week’s loss to Hapoel Acre.
Also Sunday, Victor Merey’s goal two minutes from time gave Maccabi Petah Tikva a dramatic 2-1 home victory over Hapoel Haifa.
Danny Preda scored the opener for Petah Tikva, which is hosting its home matches at National Stadium in Ramat Gan until its new stadium is ready, in the 32nd minute, only for Hanan Maman to equalize in the 58th minute.
The match seemed to be heading for a deadlock with neither team creating much in the final third of the encounter, but Merey stole all three points for the hosts with a cool finish in the 88th minute.
On Monday, Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Ashdod SC at Bloomfield Stadium.
Maccabi strengthened its squad on Sunday ahead of what will be a busy season following its progress to the Europa League group stage, signing 19-year-old Croatian defender Roberto Puncec.