Local Soccer: Maccabi Tel Aviv extends winning streak

Beats Maccabi Herzliya 2-1 at Bloomfield Stadium; other results: Mac Tel Aviv 2, Mac Herzliya 1; Mac Netanya 1, Hap TA 1; Mac Haifa 2, Hap Petah Tikva 0.

By SHARON SOLOMON
maccabi tel aviv 88 (photo credit: )
maccabi tel aviv 88
(photo credit: )
Maccabi Tel Aviv took sole possession of second place with a convincing 2-1 win over Maccabi Herzliya Saturday night at Bloomfield Stadium. Tel Aviv extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games, while arch-rival Hapoel Tel Aviv managed only a 1-1 draw with Maccabi Netanya. Maccabi Tel Aviv played without injured captain Avi Nimni. "A good game and a good result," Tel Aviv manager Eli Cohen said. "The team did well without Avi Nimni and it's a good sign for our team. I was disappointed by Herzliya's tactics. They played a very physical game and the referee was unable to control the flow of the game." The relegation zone is on fire. Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan stunned Hapoel Kfar Saba 3-1, and Hapoel Petah Tikva lost to defending champion Maccabi Haifa 2-0. Bnei Yehuda managed a 1-1 draw against Ashdod SC. Betar Jerusalem will have a chance to stay in first place when it faces Maccabi Petah Tikva Sunday night. Maccabi Tel Aviv 2, Maccabi Herzliya 1 Tel Aviv struck first after a swift counterattack. Moshe Biton passed the ball from outside the box to Sasa Ilic, who scored his first goal for the yellow-and-blue. Kfir Edri equalized 12 minutes later. Tel Aviv took the lead in the 57th minute when midfielder Giovanni Rosso scored from 20 meters. Omer Buksenboim collected his second yellow card of the game in the 63rd minute, hurting Ramat Gan's chances of a comeback. Maccabi Netanya 1, Hapoel Tel Aviv 1 Moussa Sanogo scored for host Maccabi just four minutes into the game, after taking control of the ball in the box and providing the close-range finish. But Sanogo received his marching orders 10 minutes later after receiving his second yellow card. Tel Aviv's Ivan Jolic also headed for the showers in the 44th minute after committing a brutal foul on Mazua Ensombo. Ibazito Ogabuna managed to salvage a point for the reds with a dramatic goal in the 80th minute. Maccabi Haifa 2, Hapoel Petah Tikva 0 Haifa coach Roni Levy made several changes to his starting lineup. Maor Melikson and Abas Suan helped the greens dominate the midfield. Alon Harazi scored for the visitors in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a mix-up in the Petah Tikva defense. Suan scored in the 81st minute, with a clever assist by Alain Masudi.