Israel round-up: Top two share the spoils

Serghei Clescenco's 87th-minute equaliser enabled second-placed Hapoel Tel-Aviv to rescue a valuable 1-1 draw at Israeli Premier League leaders Maccabi Haifa FC.

Tight at the top
The result meant the gap at the top remained two points and kept Hapoel's championship challenge alive. Maccabi Haifa had taken the lead in the first half with Nenad Pralija's deflected shot, but Clescenco's late header ensured that the title race remained a tight affair.

Early dominance
Hapoel fielded a defensive lineup, and the home side took control of the game in the early stages, with Giovani Rosso and Michael Zandberg both going close, before Pralija's powerful 33rd-minute shot deflected off Hapoel defender Josef Abuksis to leave goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech with no chance.

Clear chances
Hapoel were more positive after half-time and both sides had clear opportunities before the away side drew level three minutes from time, as Omri Afek's right-wing cross was headed into the net by Clescenco.

Gap closed
Third-placed Maccabi Tel-Aviv took full advantage of the draw to close the gap on Maccabi Haifa to just three points with a comfortable 3-0 victory at FC Ashdod. The away side took the lead six minutes before half-time, as Baruch Dego headed a Bruno Rais free-kick into the net, before second-half strikes from Rais and Dego again sealed three important points for Maccabi Tel-Aviv, who are at home to Maccabi Haifa in the next round of matches on 5 April.

Rousing fightback
Hapoel Beer-Sheva recovered from Yaniv Abargil's sixth-minute goal to secure a 2-1 win at Hapoel Kfar-Saba, with goals from Offir Haim and Blessing Kaku completing the comeback. Hapoel Petach-Tikva also came from behind, with goals from Erez Eliav, Manor Hasan and Mario Osibov overturning Maccabi Netanya’s two-goal cushion and sealing a 3-2 victory.

Comfortable win
Maccabi Petach-Tikva enjoyed a comfortable 4-1 success at Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv, with Kobi Refuaa scoring twice and Ismaeel Amar and Omer Golan once each. Meanwhile, the match between bottom-placed Hapoel Ironi-Rishon and Beitar Jerusalem ended 1-1, with Haim Hajaj equalising three minutes from time after Kfir Edri had given Beitar the lead in the first half.