Israel round-up: Nothing to separate top three

Hapoel Tel-Aviv moved level on points with both Maccabi Haifa FC and Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the top of the Israeli Premier League with a comfortable 4-1 win against Beitar Jerusalem on Monday.

Tight at the top
The victory meant that all three clubs moved on to 60 points with three matches left to play, although Hapoel were kept off the top of the table by virtue of Maccabi Tel-Aviv's superior goal difference.

First-half dominance
Two first-half goals from Omri Afek put Hapoel in complete control at home to Beitar, and the match was virtually settled on the stroke of half-time as Ben Luz made the score 3-0. Pini Balili added a fourth early in the second half, before Avriam Brochlan scored a late consolation for the away team.
 
Contenders held
Both the other title contenders were held to draws, with Maccabi Tel-Aviv unable to break down Maccabi Petach-Tikva despite the dismissal of Kobi Ganon on the hour. Meanwhile, Maccabi Haifa twice led at home to Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv through Walid Badier and a Nenad Pralija penalty, but two equalisers from Ben Shimon and Nir Sivilia earned the away side a draw.

Late comeback
Maccabi Netanya drew 3-3 with sixth-placed Hapoel Beer-Sheva, who took a fifth-minute lead through Blessing Kaku. However, goals from Ilan Buaron, Ruslan Lubarski and Yishamael Ado put the away side 3-1 in front before half-time. An own goal from goalkeeper Guy Salomon brought the home team into the match early in the second period, and Rami Abu Laben salvaged a draw with a penalty in added time.

Ironi Rishon relegated
FC Ashdod recovered from a goal down to defeat Hapoel Petach-Tikva 2-1, while relegated Hapoel Ironi Rishon ended a 21-game losing run as a hat-trick from Gzagoz Vedzinski and two goals from Udi Kabudi earned a 5-2 victory against Hapoel Kfar-Saba, a result which confirmed that the away side would also be demoted after one season in the top flight.