Dumped out of Europe and well off the pace in the Israeli Premier League, Hapoel Tel Aviv is not having the start to the season it had hoped for. The sucker punch of a loss to Saint Etienne in the UEFA Cup on Thursday ended Israeli interest in European competition for this term. On Monday night the situation became even worse for coach Eli Gutman's team when it lost the final game of the Premier League's matchday five, 1-0 at Ashdod SC. A sensational strike from 30 meters out by David Revivo gave Ashdod the three points in a similar manner to Bevan Fransman's super winner for Maccabi Netanya against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Sunday. The result left Hapoel languishing in seventh position, with just a single win from its first five games. With both teams struggling to create scoring opportunities, Monday's match seemed destined to end in a 0-0 draw. But Revivo had other plans, and in the 75th minute released an unstoppable shot that gave Hapoel 'keeper Vincent Enyeama no chance. "We scored a Champions League goal and we deserved to win," Ashdod coach Yossi Mizrahi said. "I'm very pleased with my team." The Hapoel coach, on the other hand, was anything but pleased with his side's performance, and couldn't hide his frustration at the end of the match. "I'm extremely disappointed. We didn't play soccer. We didn't create any chances and Ashdod dominated the match," Gutman said. "We were heavy and tired and this defeat really hurts me. At the moment we're a very average team." Gutman didn't hide from the fact that he deserves much of the blame, taking full responsibility for the team's current struggles. "We may have made mistakes in the building of the squad and that's my fault," he said sincerely. "I'm the one who built the squad and I'm the one who prepares the players for the match. If tonight's match is anything to go by, then things are looking bad." Ashdod had the best chance of the first half in the 35th minute. Out-of-form striker Dimitar Makriev was picked out by an excellent Baruch Dego pass, but the Bulgarian failed to find the back of the net once more, sending his shot wide. In the 74th minute Hapoel had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Eran Zehavi latched on to Idan Srur's cross, only to have his attempt at goal from two meters out cleared for a corner by Ashdod keeper Grzegorz Szamotulski. Less than a minute later a moment of brilliance by Revivo decided the match. The midfielder picked up the ball 35 meters out from goal and with his second touch of the ball blasted it past helpless Enyeama to give Ashdod all three points.
