Israel round-up: Violence mars Hapoel victory

Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC remain top of the table after a 4-1 win at Bnei-Yehuda Tel-Aviv in a match marred by crowd violence.

Crowd violence
Ten Hapoel supporters received hospital treatment after the game at Hatikva Quarter after trouble between supporters of both sides, to blight the memory of a fine performance by the visitors and an exceptional display by captain Shimon Gershon.

Quick lead
With less than two minutes on the clock, Pini Balili had put Hapoel ahead, with an acrobatic volley from Salim Tuamah's left-wing cross, and scouts from Dror Kashtan's side's forthcoming UEFA Cup opponents Leeds United AFC will doubtless have been impressed when Gabor Almai ghosted in behind the Bnei-Yehuda defence to head his side's second from a Yossi Abuksis cross four minutes later.

Two penalties
It went from bad to worse for the home side as Omri Afek was awarded a 27th-minute penalty allowing Gershon to send goalkeeper Avi Igbi the wrong way from the spot and make it 3-0, but just three minutes later there was hope for Eli Ohana as Bulgarian striker Vladimir Andonov scored a penalty at the other end. However, any hopes of a second-half revival were crushed as Ben Luz scored Hapoel's fourth after 77 minutes.

Maccabi win
Reigning champions Maccabi Haifa FC remain on Hapoel's shoulders after coming from behind to win 3-2 at FC Ashdod on Sunday to maintain their 100 per cent record. David Revivo put the home side ahead after 12 minutes with a close-range header but Giovani Rosso levelled two minutes later. However, Maccabi soon found themselves behind again after missing a penalty, as Robert Regbar punished Avishai Zano's poor finishing.

Benado strikes
Walid Badier headed Yitzhak Schum's side level on the stroke of half-time and Arik Benado sent the 5,000 travelling Maccabi supporters home happy as he directed a headed pass from Adoram Keisi into the net with ten minutes to go. To complete the misery for Ashdod, Balagoia Milevski was dismissed for a professional foul in added time.  

Joy for Beer-Sheva
Hapoel Beer-Sheva's title unbeaten start to the season ended as Guy Zarfati scored the only goal of the game in the 51st-minute to give Maccabi Netanya a 1-0 home win, allowing Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC to close the gap on the third-placed side with a 3-0 win at home against rock bottom Hapoel Kfar-Saba. A goal in each half from Andreas Prochanenkovs and another from Eli Biton moved Maccabi into fourth place.

Mixed fortunes in Petach-Tikva
Both Petach-Tikva sides remain in the bottom three, but Maccabi Petach-Tikva at least celebrated a surprise win this weekend as they ran out 3-1 winners at Beitar Jerusalem. Hapoel Petach-Tikva had a less happy time as Hapoel Ironi Rishon helped themselves to their first away win of the season - a 3-2 win at Petach-Tikva's expense.