The former Betar coach came away victorious after the greens completed a stunning comeback.
By SHARON SOLOMONmenashe88(photo credit: )
Eli Ohana has made an encouraging start at Hapoel Kfar Saba.
The former Betar coach found himself returning to the Premier League against Bnei Sakhnin at Doha Stadium and came away victorious after the greens completed a stunning comeback.
Maccabi Petah Tikva won in the Petah Tikva derby and climbed to 10th place, demoting Sakhnin below the red line.
Ton Caanen and Maccabi Tel Aviv suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Maccabi Netanya, which scored two late goals to earn all three points.
Elyaniv Barda was at his best, as Hapoel Tel Aviv thrashed Upper Nazareth at Bloomfield Stadium. Barda finished the game with two goals and also added an assist.
Reigning champion Maccabi Haifa got back on the winning track with a victory over Bnei Yehuda at Kiryat Eliezer.
Betar Jerusalem hosts improving Ashdod SC at Teddy Stadium Sunday night, hoping to collect all three points to keep up with Hapoel Tel Aviv in the second-place race.
Regular starter Omri Afek will pay the price for Betar's unconvincing form in its last games, as manager Luis Fernandez has temporarily ejected him from the game squad.
Bnei Sakhnin 1,Hapoel Kfar Saba 2
Eli Ohana's team was off to a poor start and fell behind in the 12th minute when Adrian Pito's piledriver landed in the back of the net.
Kfar Saba levelled in the 55th minute when Avi Knafo was in place to knock the ball in from close range.
The comeback was complete in the 70th minute. Shalev Menashe's looping free kick from 20 meters out was fisted away by Meir Cohen but Samuel Yeboah tapped in the rebound to give the visitors the victory.
Maccabi Haifa 1, Bnei Yehuda 0
Haifa's Reuven Oved was dominant in the first half and created many chances up front for his teammates but Moshe Biton was off target.
The hosts were not at their best but managed to score off a swift counterattack in the 29th minute. Roberto Colautti advanced on the Bnei Yehuda goalkeeper and squared the ball for unmarked Shlomi Arbitman, who provided the easy finish.
Hapoel Tel Aviv 4,Upper Nazareth 0
After a poor first half caused by Nazareth's defensive tactics, the hosts finally exploded in the second.
Elyaniv Barda scored the first goal for the reds in the 54th minute after a swift raid. Hapoel doubled its lead just four minutes later when Ilya Yevorian glanced in a precise Barda cross.
The veteran Armenian striker had not said his last word. Yevorian completed his brace in the 60th minute when Nazareth goalkeeper Oshri Levi fumbled his header into the goal.
Barda was in action again in the 70th minute when he was lurking unmarked in the box and blasted the ball in from close range.
Maccabi Netanya 3, Maccabi Tel Aviv 1
Tel Aviv was the better team in the opening minutes and took the lead in the eighth when veteran Ofir Haim got past the Netanya defense and scored from five meters out.
Shlomi Edri got the equalizer in the 59th minute with an elegant lob over Liran Strauber, who was caught out of position.
Tal Banin was sent off in the 77th minute, but this didn't stop Alain Masudi (82) and Ibrahim Abdul Razek (90) from scoring twice.
Maccabi Petah Tikva 2, Hapoel Petah Tikva 0
The "Luzons" drew first blood when former Hapoel player Stanislav Dubrovin set up Omer Golan, who provided a clinical finish in the 22nd minute.
Maccabi Petah Tikva sealed the fate of the derby when it was awarded a penalty after Zev Haimovic was caught handling the ball in the box. Soli Tzemach initially missed the spot kick but managed to score off the rebound.
Tzemach and Hapoel's Omer Buksenbaum were both sent off towards the end of the game.
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
