Israel round-up: Hapoel closing in

The Israeli Premier League returned to action at the weekend after a short winter break.

Kleschenko winner
Sergei Kleschenko's 38th-minute winner saw Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC return from their away trip to the Teddy Stadium with a 1-0 win against Beitar Jerusalem that was enough to lift them temporarily to the top of the table. Kleschenko rose high to head in Pini Balili's cross seven minutes before half-time. The closest Beitar came to an equaliser was when Ofer Talkar's close-range effort struck the post.

Maccabi Haifa held
However Maccabi Haifa FC reclaimed top spot on goal difference after drawing 1-1 with struggling Hapoel Petach-Tikva on Monday night. When Walid Badier and Giovani Rosso exchanged passes early on to set up Michael Zandberg for the opener a comfortable Maccabi victory looked on the cards. However in the 70th minute an uncharacteristic mistake by Adoram Keisi deep in his own half led to Petach-Tikva's equaliser. Keisi lost the ball to Yossi Shivhon who combined well with Erez Eliav before blasting the ball into the net.

Maccabi Tel-Aviv go third
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC climbed above Hapoel Beer-Sheva and into third spot after beating Hapoel Ironi Rishon 2-1 on Sunday. Baruch Dago and Rodrigo Goldberg scored Maccabi's goals before Shai Holtzman's late penalty ensured a nervous last few minutes for the hosts.

Valuable points
Hapoel Kfar-Saba collected three valuable points away from home by beating Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv 3-2. Yaniv Abargil broke the deadlock early on before Hezy Shiraz levelled the scores. Mizrahi restored Kfar Saba's lead, Vladimir Endonov equalised again but Anesh Demirovic's 87th-minute goal sealed the win for Kfar Saba, who are now ninth.
  
Ashdod end Beer-Sheva run
Struggling FC Ashdod ended Beer-Sheva's run of four successive wins as they held them to a 2-2 draw. Ophir Haim put the visitors ahead before Oren Nissim marked his Ashdod debut with an equaliser. Blessing Kaku restored Beer-Sheva's lead six minutes after half-time before Hanan Fadida's 77th-minute goal earned second-bottom Ashdod a precious point.

Goalless draw
Finally, only the crossbar stopped Maccabi Netanya's new Ghanaian signing, Yishmael Ado, from marking his debut with a goal as his side played out a goalless draw with Maccabi Petach-Tikva. Netanya stay fifth, one place and three points ahead of Petach-Tikva.