Israel round-up: Haifa have the lead
Sunday, October 27, 2002
Article summary
Maccabi Haifa FC replaced Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC at the top of the table with a win against Maccabi Netanya.
Article body
Rosso the hero
Two goals from Giovani Rosso secured a 2-1 home win for the champions - their fifth in five games. Rosso struck either side of the interval to justify coach Itzhak Shum's decision to rest key players ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League game against Manchester United FC. Guy Zarfaty scored a consolation for Netanya who had Adrian Geman sent off.
Ten men hang on
Kfar-Saba also had a man dismissed yet survived to take a point from overnight leaders Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Ophir Koppel received his marching orders after Yaniv Abargil had equalised Salim Tuamah's opener for Tel-Aviv on the stroke of half-time.
Bubbling Beer-Sheva
Elsewhere, Hapoel Beer-Sheva handed a fourth straight defeat to Beitar Jerusalem to increase the pressure on coach Eli Cohen. Polish signings Bartos Taracholski and Ramic Jazerski were on target in the only top-flight game not to see a red card, as Beer-Sheva went third in the table.
Nimni double
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC moved into fourth place with a 5-1 home win against second-from-bottom Hapoel Petach-Tikva. Eli Biton, Tal Banin, Avi Nimni with two goals, and Rodrigo Goldberg were the scorers. Maccabi Petach-Tikva overcame Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv courtesy of strikes from Ngoi Nsombo and Idan Malichi, while Shai Holtzman's penalty edged Hapoel Ironi Rishon past visitors FC Ashdod.
