Israel round-up: Haifa maintain advantage

A narrow 2-1 defeat of Maccabi Tel-Aviv on Saturday saw Maccabi Haifa stay top of the Ligat ha-Al.

Haifa leave it late
It took a last-minute goal from Tel-Aviv's Alon Harazi to give the league leaders victory, but it looked as though they would have to settle for a draw after Haifa's Elli Biton levelled for the third-placed side with ten minutes to go. Walid Badir had given Tel-Aviv the lead, but they failed to build on their first-half advantage and nearly paid for their profligacy.

Tel-Aviv grind through
Hapoel Haifa almost did their local rivals a favour by holding second-placed Hapoel Tel-Aviv at bay for an hour away from home, but Pini Balili's 65th-minute strike was enough to settle the issue and ensure the gap from first to second remained at two points.

Drama at Petach-Tikva
Maccabi Petach-Tikva secured a valuable point in their battle against relegation as they shared four first half goals in a 2-2 draw with visitors FC Ashdod. Strikes by Rafi Cohen and Andzi Kubika were twice answered by goals from Ismaeil Amer and Angoi Ansumbu. In the day's other game Maccabi Netanya played out a goalless draw with visiting Hapoel Petach-Tikva.