JERUSALEM, Sept 20 - Hapoel Beer Sheva went top of
the Israeli premier league standings following their 2-1 home
victory over Bnei Sakhnin on Saturday.
Beer Sheva are the only team with a 100 per cent record from
two matches, although they could be joined on six points by
champions Maccabi Tel Aviv or Bnei Yehuda, who meet on Sunday.
Maccabi Haifa were robbed of victory by a clear officiating
error in the big clash of the day against Hapoel Tel Aviv in a
goalless encounter watched by over 14,000 spectators at Hapoel's
Bloomfield Stadium.
The pulsating match between Israel's two best sides over the
past five years should have seen Haifa come away with the
points.
A header in the 85th-minute by international defender Alon
Harazi was knocked out by Hapoel's Rami Halis. TV replays
clearly showed that the ball had crossed the line but referee
Assaf Keinan was told by his linesman that it was not a goal.
In other matches, Maccabi Netanya scored once to beat Betar
Jerusalem's inexperienced side 1-0, Ashdod SC, inspired by Haim
Revivo, came back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Ahi Nazareth, and
the Petah Tikva derby between Hapoel and Maccabi ended 1-1.