Israel round-up: Maccabi hold their nerve

Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC survived a nervous second half to beat bottom club Hapoel Petach-Tikva 2-1 tonight and climb to third place in Israel.
 
Gap cut
Tel-Aviv's victory saw them cut the gap between themselves and second-placed Maccabi Haifa FC to just one point, but still leaves them three behind city rivals and league leaders Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC. Maccabi Tel-Aviv went ahead after just two minutes thorough Andres Prochanenkovs. Baruch Dago extended the advantage in the 42nd minute when he won and then dispatched a penalty. Shlomi Edri's header almost immediately reduced the deficit but Petach-Tikva could not find an equaliser despite a spirited second-half performance. 

Leaders win again
On Saturday leaders Hapoel Tel-Aviv recorded their seventh victory in eight matches by beating Hapoel Kfar-Saba 2-1. Ben Luz broke the deadlock after 15 minutes following good work by Sergei Kleschenko. Muhamad Kabha levelled the scores eight minutes later but Yossi Abuksis' 64th-minute penalty sealed another Hapoel victory.

Points dropped
Elsewhere on Saturday, Maccabi Haifa dropped two valuable points when they were held to a goalless draw by Maccabi Netanya while Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv fell 3-1 at home against Maccabi Petach-Tikva and FC Ashdod moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Hapoel Ironi Rishon.

Cohen job in the balance
On Sunday, Ophir Haim's second-half hat-trick helped Hapoel Beer-Sheva come from a goal behind to secure a 4-1 victory against Beitar Jerusalem at the Teddy stadium to leave Beitar coach Eli Cohen's job in the balance. The club's owner Meir Fenigel said after the game: "We decided not to decide. We will sit down with Cohen on Monday and announce our decision. We're still shocked about the result."