Israel round-up: Tel-Aviv head top

Maccabi Tel-Aviv moved top of the Ligat ha-Al on Saturday night with a narrow victory over mid-table Hapoel Ironi Rishon.

Great run
Rodrigo Goldberg headed in the only goal of the game from Tal Banin's cross in the 22nd minute - the striker's fourth goal in his last three matches, as Tel-Aviv inflicted on Ironi Rishon their sixth defeat in seven games. The win puts Tel-Aviv one point clear of Maccabi Haifa, who were held to a 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Hapoel Petach-Tikva.

Spoils shared
Ran Ben Shimon put Petach-Tikva ahead with a fine free-kick in the 12th minute, but Haifa were level after 58 minutes when Rafi Cohen received a pass from Yossi Benayoun and finished well beyond a stranded Ohad Cohen in the Petch-Tikva goal. Despite piling on the pressure in the latter stages, the visitors failed to get a winning goal.

Off the bottom
Hapoel Beer-Sheva moved off the foot of the table courtesy of a controversial Elyaniv Barda goal against Maccabi Kiriat-Gat. Kfir Edri found Barda with a cross in the 56th minute and his fierce shot hit the underside of the bar before bouncing down and out of the goal.

Linesman awards goal
The referee had signalled to play on but the assistant referee waved his flag to stop the match and insisted the ball had crossed the line, handing Beer-Sheva a 1-0 win.

In last place
Maccabi Petach-Tikva slipped to the foot of the table after they could only muster a 1-1 draw at mid-table Hapoel Haifa. In Saturday's other match, Beitar Jerusalem went down 1-0 at home to FC Ashdod.