Israel round-up: Haifa come from behind

Hapoel Haifa came from behind to beat second-bottom Beitar Jerusalem 4-1 in their Ligat ha-Al encounter on Monday evening.

Zohar on target
Itzic Zohar put the visitors ahead with a cool finish at the Kiriat Eliezer Municipality stadium and Beitar looked to be in control until Haifa hit back with four goals in the final 16 minutes. Croatian midfield player Michael Anicic levelled the scores with a 74th-minute penalty after Tommer Azulai was penalised and subsequently sent off, before Oren Nisim gave the hosts the lead with a fine header three minutes later.

Late goals
Anicic grabbed his second goal of the night with a minute remaining to give Haifa an unassailable lead and an injury-time penalty from Eli Abrbanel made for a convincing final scoreline.

Beitar in trouble
Haifa remain in ninth place but the win lifts them closer to their mid-table rivals Maccabi Netanya and Hapoel Ironi Rishon. Another defeat for struggling Beitar means they stay in eleventh place, six points clear of bottom club Maccabi Kiriat-Gat but nine points adrift of tonight's opponents.