Israel round-up: Mixed fortunes for leading trio

With Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC losing and Maccabi Haifa FC only managing a draw at home, Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC moved back to the top of the table by virtue of defeating Hapoel Beer-Sheva 2-1. With five matches remaining, the three clubs are separated by three points.

Back from injury
Maccabi Tel-Aviv moved to 59 points following tonight's win, sealed by Rodrigo Goldberg's 68th-minute winning goal. The Chilean forward had only been on for four minutes after recovering from a stomach injury. The home side had opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Amir Turgeman finished following a flowing move. Beer-Sveva equalised in the 62nd minute when Tomer Haliba drilled in a free-kick from 30 metres, but Goldberg had the final say six minutes later.

Talented defender
Hapoel Tel-Aviv are now two points behind their city rivals after a 1-0 home loss against Maccabi Netanya. Their winning goal came in the 54th minute when talented right-back Ori Uzan charged forward before cutting into the area and beating Shavit Elimelech with a precise low shot.

N'sombo equalises
A further point behind in third are Maccabi Haifa, who led the standings this time last week. The reigning champions dropped two valuable home points against Maccabi Petach-Tikva, another club vying to finish fourth. Maccabi Haifa scored first when Michael Zandberg's shot deflected off Murad Megamadov to beat visiting goalkeeper Ohad Cohen. The lead lasted just six minutes as Ngoi N'sombo headed in a Kobi Ganon cross.

Winless run
In today's other games, Hapoel Ironi Rishon's winless run stretched to 20 matches as Hapoel Petach-Tikva beat the bottom club 3-0 away to cement eighth position. Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv are four points behind in ninth after drawing 1-1 at Hapoel Kfar-Saba.