Israel round-up: Nothing to separate top three

Maccabi Tel-Aviv's lead at the top of the Israeli Premier League disappeared as they slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to Maccabi Netanya.

Exciting win
Maccabi Haifa FC moved level at the top with 59 points after a thrilling 4-3 victory away to Beitar Jeruslam, and the Tel-Aviv side are now ahead on goal difference only.

Early breakthrough
Former Maccabi Tel-Aviv player Guy Zarfati opened the scoring for Maccabi Netanya after six minutes, collecting Yishmael Ado's square ball and shooting past Liran Strauber. The leaders then lost Andres Prohorenkovs to a red card on the stroke of half-time.

Decisive second
Kfir Zukul doubled the home side's advantage midway through the second half, heading Ilan Buraon's left-wing cross into the net, and Ruslan Lubarski came close to adding a third, but his shot came back of the post.

First-half deficit
Maccabi Haifa trailed 2-0 at Beitar at half-time, as Itzik Zohar opened the scoing after just six minutes, scoring direct from a corner, and the home side took a two-goal lead a minute before the interval as David Amsalem shot into the net.

Instant impact
The away side introduced Rafi Cohen and Giovani Rosso as half-time substitutes, and Rosso reduced the deficit two minutes past the hour, before Cohen equalised 16 minutes from time. Four minutes later, it was 2-3 as Cohen headed his second and his side's third, but Beitar substitute Shlomi Arbetman headed an equaliser six minutes from time.

Late drama
However, just as it seemed Maccabi Haifa would have to settle for a draw, Cohen completed his hat-trick in the final minute to breathe new life into his side's title challenge. Meanwhile, Hapoel Tel-Aviv, who could have moved top of the table with a win at Maccabi Petach-Tikva, dropped to third after suffering a 1-0 defeat.

Missed opportunities
The away side created a number of clear goalscoring chances, and two minutes past the hour, Hapoel goalkeeper Shavit Elimelech brought down Omer Golan, and Kobi Refua coverted the resulting penalty for what proved to be the only goal of the game.

Goals in each half
Hapoel Petach-Tikva enjoyed a 2-0 home win against Hapoel Kfar-Saba, as Muhamad Kabha's own-goal gave the home side the lead on the stroke of half-time, and Yaniv Luzon scored a decisive second in added time. Meanwhile, the game between Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv and FC Ashdod ended goalless.
 
Losing streak
Finally, first-half goals from Bartush Tracholski, Stav Elimelech, Tomer Haliba, Remik Jazerski and Elad Bonfeld enabled Hapoel Beer-Sheva to inflict a 21st successive defeat on bottom side Hapoel Ironi Rishon, who had briefly drawn level through Davor Baisic.