Bnei Yehuda wins in Haifa for first time since 1992/93 season
By Moshe Harush, Tomer Ratman and Moshe Boker
Bnei Yehuda yesterday couldn't have asked for a better opponent in its struggle to survive in the Premier League. Maccabi Haifa looked hapless, not playing anything that resembled top-flight soccer. For 90 minutes the orange visitors attacked incessantly at the Green's limping, lethargic defense. The total lack of motivation on the part of Haifa was practically enough for coach Ya'akov Asayag's players to come away with three points and high hopes for what lies ahead. The result was Bnei Yehuda's first victory in the Kiryat Eiezer stadium since the 1992/93 season.
Assi Baldout and Hrvoje Kovacevic easily took control of midfield and completely neutralized Haifa's clumsy and scattered attack. Toward the end of the first half Baldout set up the winning goal with a free kick that Moshe Biton lifted into the goal in the 39th minute.
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"We came prepared," said Bnei Yehuda assistant coach Hezi Shirazi after the game. "This victory matches the good feelings we've had lately. We're not obsessed with our chances of staying - rather thinking about the next game and not too far ahead. No one here is fine with relegation, and we hope to keep up the recent streak."
Haifa coach Roni Levy admitted his team didn't deserve a trip to Europe the way it's played. "Inconsistency," he said last night, "has characterized us all year. It's the symptom of a mediocre team. The players have a lot of reasons to be serious, but it seems they aren't taking them to heart and are giving up on Europe."
In other games:
MAC. HERZLIYA 2, ASHDOD SC 0 Just last weekend Ashdod SC seemed on its way out of safety range from the relegation zone while Herzliya's season had collapsed. However, typical of this season's twists and turns, Herzliya bounced right back yesterday, taking Ashdod's place above the red line. Ekundayo Jayeoba was the hero yesterday with a pair of goals. The Nigerian striker had been under fire this season for his lack of inspired play, and in fact he looked no different before his scoring spree started. He suddenly caught fire, though, with goals in the 72nd and 77th minutes to become the darling of Herzliya.
KIRYAT SHMONA 3, KFAR SAVA 1 After being booted out of the State Cup, Kiryat Shmona and Kfar Sava turned their attention to league matters. Kiryat Shmona coach Ran Ben Shimon wanted to show the upset by third-tier club Beitar Shimshon Tel Aviv was a freak of nature, and indeed his team demonstrated why it deserves to be tied for second place and get a possible spot in Europe. Kfar Sava, too far from the top to compete or from the bottom to be relegated, lacked spirit. The usually brilliant Douglas da Silva forgot his position as defender and spent too much time upfield, while Abubakari Yahuza kept trying to make spectacular passes that ended up in the possession of Kiryat Shmona. The result came as no surprise. Kfar Sava coach Eli Ohana summed it up thus: "The way we played today, even a team from the second division could have beaten us."
BNEI SAKHNIN 4, MAC. PETAH TIKVA 0 Bnei Sakhnin jumped out to an early lead against Petah Tikva and then kept the host pretty much out of the entire match. Like other teams going in opposite directions this season, Bnei Sakhnin looked focused on its European aspirations while Petah Tikva looked like it just wants to be put out of its misery without slipping into the relegation zone. Romanian striker Bogdan Apostu got things going with his goal in the 4th minute. Ilya Yavruyan followed through with a score in the 15th minute but had to wait until the 78th minute before knocking in his second goal of the evening. In the 90th minute Mahran Abu Raiya capped the scoring with a header off a corner kick from Abed Rabah.
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