Maccabi Tel Aviv 2012-13 Champions Ligat Ha’Al Football Israel

Hapoel Ramat HaSharon 0-2 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi won their 20th league title last night by defeating Ramat HaSharon 2-0 at Ramat Gan Stadium with goals by Dor Micha & Rada Prica. This was Maccabi first title in 10 years and the owner Mitch Goldhar’s first since taking over the ownership of the club 4 years ago. Massive celebrations took place around Tel Aviv to savor this historic evening as Maccabi can now focus on the UEFA Champions League qualification rounds which will begin in July.

Manager Jordi Cryuff and coach Oscar Garcia, both brought in at the beginning of the season will have their work cut out for them over the next few months in order to bring on board the necessary reinforcements to get to the group stages of Europe’s top league.

Maccabi receiving the Championship Plate!

The club & fans celebrate the Championship

Round 32 Football Israel Ligat Ha’Al Playoffs

Hapoel Haifa 3-1 Beitar Jerusalem
Haifa dominated against a clearly uninterested Beitar club without goalkeeper Ariel Harush up in Israel’s Northern Capital. Coach Nir Klinger secured that his club will play in the Ligat Ha’Al yet another season, exactly what Beitar had done the week earlier. Goal scorers included Valdimir Gloshovitch, Gal Arel & Ran Abukrat as captaqin Amit ben Shushan answered for Jerusalem.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-4 Kiryat Shemona
Kiryat Shemona traveled to Tel Aviv and took apart Hapoel in a one sided affair. Ramzio Sefori scored for Hapoel and Shimon Abuhatzeira scored all 4 goals for last year’s champion.

Maccabi Netanya 2-1 Ashdod
Coach Reuven Atar got his 3 points to move Netanya out of the relegation zone with goals by Yossi Shivhon and Kobi Dejani. Murad Abu Anza scored for Ashdod as they have already assured themselves of staying up in the Ligat Ha’Al.

Hapoel Beer Sheva 0-0 Hapoel Akko
Both clubs in danger of being relegated played to a scoreless draw in a listless match in Beer Sheva.

Sabras Abroad Weekend April 13-14, 2013

**Tomer Hemed assisted on the game winning 93rd minute goal and Dudu Aoute started in goal as Mallorca beat Celta Vigo 1-0.

Gai Assulin did not play for Santander vs. Girona in a 1-0 loss.

Bibras Natcho played 90 minutes for Rubin Kazan and scored a penalty kick in a 3-2 win over Chelsea in Europa League action but did not advance.

In Scotland, Beram Kayal came in at the 77th minute mark for Celtic against Dundee United in a 4-3 extra time Scottish Cup thriller.

In Belgium, Elyaniv Barda of Racing Genk did not play in 1-1 win over Lokeren.

Lior Refaelov played 35 minutes for Club Brugge’s 1-1 draw with Anderlecht.

Standard Liege defeated Zulte 4-3 & Maor Bozaglo did not play for Liege.

Barack Badash did not dress, Gal Shish played 90 minutes & Mohamed Ghadir did not play in Waasland-Beveren 1-1 draw with Charleroi.

Shlomi Arbeitman played 90 minutes in Mons’s 3-0 loss to Kortrijik.

Roi Dayan played 64 minutes for Beerschot in a 2-1 loss to Cercle Brugge.

Yossi Benayoun played 77 minutes in a 3-2 loss to Rubin Kazan in an Europa League match and advanced to the next round. Benayoun did not play in the 2-1 loss to Manchester City in EPL action.

Tal Ben Haim did not play in QPR’s 2-0 loss to Everton.

Itay Schecter did not play in Swansea’s 2-2 draw with Norwich.

In the French League, Maor Melikson played 73 minutes for Valciennes in a 0-0 draw with St.Etienne.

Due to injury,Eden ben Baset did not play for Toulouse in a 3-1 loss to Lyon.

For Anthorsis, the injured Barack Yitzhaki did not dress while Matan Ohayon did not play and Dudu Biton was a 71st minute substitute for Apoel in a 0-0 draw.

Niso Capiloto played 90 minutes & Roi Bekel did not play for ALKI Larnaca in their 2-1 win over Olympiakos.

Goalkeeper Ohad Levita did not play & Yuval Spungin started as Omonia Nicosia while Guy Haimov started for Larnaca in Omonia’s 2-0 win.

Dan Mori did not play for Vitesse in a 3-3 draw with Roda JC..

Ben Sahar did not dress for Hertha Berlin in a 1-1 draw with FC Ingolstadt in the German second division.

Round 31 Ligat Ha’AL Football Israel Playoffs

Bnei Yehuda 2-2 Maccabi Tel Aviv
The hosts Bnei Yehuda took a quick 2-0 lead on goals by Adam Hrepka and Gil Itzhak nailed his first senior team marker and looked to have Maccabi Tel Aviv on the ropes. However, the table leaders fought back on a brace by Eran Zehavi before half time to tie up the match. Maccabi ‘keeper Vincent Enyeama was outstanding in the second half as Maccabi maintained their stranglehold on 1st place.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-2 Maccabi Haifa
Hapoel kept Maccabi Haifa at bay and drew 2-2 in an entertaining match at Bloomfield Stadium Saturday afternoon. Shay Abutbul scored a pair of goals for the Reds and Dino Ndolvu & Shlomi Azoulay scored for the Greens. The draw means that Haifa is still 10 points out of 1st place as Hapoel maintained their 3rd place position.

Hapoel Akko 1-1 Bnei Sakhnin
The teams split the points and both remained above the Red Line and relegation zone in this lower playoff battle. Yero Bello scored for Sakhnin and Guy Dayan answered for Akko.

Hapoel Ramat Gan 0-0 Maccabi Netanya
Both clubs stay at the bottom of the league as neither side was able to find a winner drawing 0-0. The result helped Akko & Sakhnin as time is running out on Ramat Gan & Netanya to find points to stay up in the Ligat Ha’Al. Italian ‘keeper Luigi Cennamo was the star of the show and gave Netanya a chance to stay in the game.

Ashdod 1-0 Hapoel Haifa
Ashdod took the 3 points on a Haifa own goal recording their first victory in a month and all but assured that they will stay up to play in the top league yet another season.

Beitar Jerusalem 1-0 Hapoel Beer Sheva
Beitar finally has won a league match! It took almost 3 months since their last win at Bloomfield Stadium against Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0. Avi Rikan scored a 65th minute goal as he continued his strong season and Ariel Harush pushed a way a 93rd minute chance from Beer Sheva that now puts Beitar 8 points away from the red zone with a only a few games remaining.

Kiryat Shemona 1-0 Hapoel Ramat HaSharon
Kiryat Shemona moved 4 points clear of 5th place and in good position to go into European competition next season on a goal by Osei Mawuli.

The Cheeky Backheel Football Israel Podcast Episode 5!

Right click here to download the Football Israel Podcast from April 11, 2013

Raanan Baranovsky of Walla! Sports & Sport 1 & 2 in Israel joined The Sports Rabbi on this week’s Cheeky Backheel Show as we discussed the latest in the Football Israel Ligat Ha’Al!

We break down Maccabi & Hapoel Tel Aviv plus look at the upcoming summers for those clubs & Maccabi Haifa!

Raanan also picks his most important Sabra Abroad! Tune in to find out who it is!

Sabras Abroad April 6-7, 2013

Tomer Hemed played the first half andDudu Aoute started in goal as Mallorca lost 5-0 to Barcelona.

Gai Assulin came in for Santander vs. Alcorcon in the 65th minute in a 1-0 victory.

Bibras Natcho played 90 minutes for Rubin Kazan in a 0-0 draw with Kuban.

In Scotland, Beram Kayal & Rami Gershon did not play in Celtic’s 3-0 win over Hibernian.

In Belgium, Elyaniv Barda of Racing Genk came in at the 82nd minute in a 1-1 draw with Zulte.

Lior Refaelov was out injured for Club Brugge’s loss to Standard Liege 2-0 & Maor Bozaglo did not play for Liege.

Barack Badash and Gal Shish played in Waasland-Beveren 1-0 win over Mechelen.

Shlomi Arbeitman helped Mons’s out to a 2-1 win over Lierse

Roi Dayan Beerschot lost to Cercle Brugge 1-0.

Yossi Benayoun came on in the 85th minute in a 2-1 win over Sunderland.

Tal Ben Haim did not play in QPR’s 1-1 draw with Wigan.

Itay Schecter did not play in Swansea’s 2-2 draw with Norwich.

In the French League, Maor Melikson assisted on Valciennes lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Montpellier.

Due to injury,Eden ben Baset did not play for Toulouse in a 3-2 win over AC Ajaccio.

Anthorsis and Barack Yitzhaki lost 3-0 to Larnaca and Ran Ben Shimon and Guy Haimov. Yitzhaki came out injured in the 18th minute.

Niso Capiloto & Roi Bekel started and played 90 minutes each for ALKI Larnaca in a 1-1 draw with Ethnikos.

Goalkeeper Ohad Levita did not play & Yuval Spungin started as Omonia Nicosia defeated Dudu Biton and APOEL Nicosia 3-0.

Dan Mori did not play for Vitesse in a 2-1 victory over Zwole.

Ben Sahar played 15 minutes for Hertha Berlin in a 2-0 win over Bochum in the German second division.

Round 30 Football Israel Ligat Ha’Al Playoffs

Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0 Hapoel Tel Aviv
Maccabi took another step towards the championship by defeating Hapoel in the Tel Aviv derby. Former Hapoel player Eran Zehavi scored the game winner 31 minutes into the match on a beautiful volley on the box. Hapoel players and supporters were none too pleased to see Zehavi’s celebration and took much heat in the media for shirt removal and pledge to Maccabi fans. Dor Micah scored the second goal in the 59th minute as Maccabi dominated the game flow and showed just whose town it is.

Maccabi Haifa 3-2 Kiryat Shemona
Maccabi Haifa still remains 10 points out of first place but seems to have wrapped up 2nd with another victory on goals by Chen Ezra, Dekel Keinan & the game winner by Shlom Azoulay in the 86th minute. Kiryat Shemona received goals from Adrian Rotchat & Shir Tzedek.

Beitar Jerusalem 2-2 Hapoel Akko
Jerusalem looked to be in control of this match taking a 2-0 lead into the 80th minute but somehow they managed to give up two late goals to Yuval Shabtai which led to the clubs splitting the points. Amit Ben Shushan & Chen Azriel (Pen) scored for Beitar who will host Beer Sheva this coming Saturday night.

Hapoel Ramat HaSharon 0-3 Bnei Yehuda
Bmei Yehuda’s win closed the gap on 4th place Kiryat Shemona battling it out for a spot in Europe. Adam Hrepka, Nenad Marinkovic & Rafi Dahan helped the visitors to the victory over a quickly fading Ramat HaSharon.

Maccabi Netanya 1-0 Bnei Sakhnin
Pierre Mbemba’s 94th minute injury time goal gave Bnei Sakhnin the surprise draw on the road against Netanya whom remain 2 points below the red line. Ali Khatib gave the hosts the lead in the 84th minute but they could not hold on to secure the valuable 3 points.

Hapoel Beer Sheva 2-0 Ashdod
Beer Sheva wrapped up a nice win at home on a penalty goal by Dovev Gabay and and 92nd minute strike by Tomer Suissa to move the Southern capital club 5 points clear of the relegation zone.

Hapoel Haifa 1-0 Hapoel Ramat Gan
Mahran Lala picked up the winner for Haifa moving them 5 points abve sea level and left Ramat Gan in 13th position.

Round 29 Israel Football Ligat Ha’Al Mid Week!

Hapoel Kiryat Shemona 1-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv came out of the gates with their travelling away fans against last year’s champions and kept their lead over Maccabi Haifa by 10 points. Muanes Dabur, Rada Prica & Eran Zahavi on a penalty scored for Maccabi while Shimon Abuhatzira’s penalty was the lone marker for Kiryat Shemona.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-1 Bnei Yehuda
Hapoel certainly has looked good the past few weeks and won yet again to almost cement an Europa League spot for next year and lead into the Derby match with Maccabi on Saturday night with a revitalized Toto Tamuz. Nenad Marinkovic opened the scoring for Bnei Yehuda and the aforementioned Tamuz tied it up on a 31st minute penalty. Hanan Maman wrapped up the victory with a goal in the 66th minute.

Maccabi Haifa 6-0 Ramat HaSharon
Haifa was on fire putting up a 6 spot on the surprise upper playoff club Ramat HaSharona with Dino Ndlovu picking up 4 goals in the match! Taleb Tawatha & Wiam Amasha also scored for Haifa who are still 10 points back from Maccabi Tel Aviv and can’t seem to get a break to gain on the table leaders.

The Cheeky Backheel Football Israel Podcast Episode 4 April 3, 2013

Right click here to download the Football Israel Podcast from April 3, 2013

The Cheeky Backheel Episode 4 welcomes aboard Evyatar Lang of Yisrael HaYom Newspaper to talk about the Israel National Team matches over the Passover Holiday against Portugal & Northern Ireland.

Evyatar Lang of Yisrael HaYom!

Was the 3-3 draw with Portugal at home a disappointment? Was it one point gained or two points lost? What did the away match in Belfast show about the Israel team? What is coach Eli Gutman trying to accomplish? Evyatar & The Sports Rabbi delve into all of these questions to find out what the essence of our National Team is!

What is the biggest tragedy in Israel Football this season? And what can we expect from Maccabi Tel Aviv to do over the summer in order to strengthen their roster before Champions League Qualifiers? We talk about that too!

And who is Evyatar’s most important Sabra Abroad, Israeli playing in Europe!

Tune into The Cheeky Backheel to hear what this young aspiring journalist Evyatar Lang has to say!

Sabras Abroad Weekend of March 30-31, 2013

Tomer Hemed came on in the 57th minute for Mallorca & Dudu Aoute started in goal as they lost to La Coruna 3-2.

Gai Assulin came in for Santander vs. Elche in the 78th minute in a 0-0 draw.

Rubin Kazan-Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 Highlights All… by marcoxxx46
Bibras Natcho scored the 1st goal for Rubin Kazan in the 40th minute to defeat Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 win.

In Scotland, Beram Kayal of Celtic played the full match & Rami Gershon did not play in their club’s 1-1 draw against St. Mirren. Celtic played with 10 men from minute 55.

In Belgium, Elyaniv Barda of Racing Genk did not play in his club’s 2-1 victory over Anderlecht.

Lior Refaelov was out injured for Club Brugge’s loss to Standard Liege 2-0 & Maor Bozaglo did not play for Liege.

Matan Ohayon did not dress in Royal Charleroi SC’s 0-0 draw with Mechelen.

Barack Badash came on as an 84th minute sub and Gal Shish played 90 minutes and assisted on Waasland-Beveren lone goal in a 3-1 loss to Leuven.

Shlomi Arbeitman was issued a red card in the 64th minute in Mons’s 2-1 loss to Gent.

Roi Dayan assisted on the game winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Cercle Brugge. Dror Malul did not play.

Yossi Benayoun came on in the 76th minute in a 2-1 loss to Southampton.

Tal Ben Haim did not play in QPR’s 3-2 loss to Fulham.

Itay Schecter came on as a 79th minute sub in Swansea’s 2-1 loss to Tottenham.

In the French League, Maor Melikson played 90 minutes for Valciennes in a 4-3 loss to Bastia.

Due to injury,Eden ben Baset did not play for Toulouse in a 3-2 win over AC Ajaccio.

Guy Haimov & coach Ran Ben Shimon beat Doxa 2-0.

Dudu Biton scored a goal in APOEL Nicosia 2-0 win over Anorthosis. Barak Yitzhaki played the full 90 minutes. & coach Roni Levi resigned following the match.

Niso Capiloto did not play but Roi Bekel started and had a goal & an assist for ALKI Larnaca in a 6-5 win over Ethnikos.

Goalkeeper Ohad Levita did not play & Yuval Spungin started as Omonia Nicosia defeated Nes Salamis 6-0.

Dan Mori did not play for Vitesse in a 2-1 victory over Zwole.

Ben Sahar played 15 minutes for Hertha Berlin in a 2-0 win over Bochum in the German second division.