Israel round-up: No stopping Maccabi Haifa

Two goals from Yakubu Ayegbeni and another by Michael Zandberg helped Maccabi Haifa maintain their 100 per cent Israeli Premier League record as they beat Hapoel Petach-Tikva 3-1.

Late clinchers
Haifa, who returned to their home Kiriat Eliezer stadium after playing in Cyprus and at Tel-Aviv's Bloomfield stadium, took the lead in the 16th minute through Ayegbini. Petach-Tikva equalised four minutes before half-time, Yossi Rosen scoring the first league goal Haifa have conceded this season. Petach-Tikva then missed a great chance to take the lead, Shlomi Edri shooting wide with only Dudu Awat to beat. That miss proved to be costly as Haifa scored two late goals, Zandberg heading his first for the club and Ayegbeni sealing the win.

Solid performance
Hapoel Tel-Aviv proved that their 1-0 defeat to FC Kärnten in the UEFA on Thursday was merely a slip as they beat Beitar Jerusalem 2-0. The 12,000 fans who turned up at Bloomfield stadium witnessed a solid performance by Hapoel, Pini Balili and substitute Kfir Udi getting the goals.

Three in a row
Hapoel Beer-Sheva made it three wins a row as they defeated FC Ashdod 3-0, strikes from Rami Abu Laben, Oren Sagron and an own goal from Sharon Amar deciding the game, while Andreas Prochanenkovs was on target to give Maccabi Tel-Aviv a 1-0 victory at Hapoel Ironi Rishon.

Shot on target
Talas Shot gave Maccabi Netanya the lead at Maccabi Petach-Tikva, but Idan Malihi equalised for the home side, who survived the late dismissal of Kobi Refua to claim a point, while Hezi Shirazi's 75th-miunte goal gave Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv a 1-0 win away to Hapoel Kfar-Saba.