Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Petah Tikva: 2-1, Round 9 of the Ligat Ha’al

Hapoel Haifa beat Hapoel Petah Tikva 2-1 at Sammy Ofer Stadium on Saturday. Alon Turgeman and Naor Sabag scored for the hosts, and Yves Erick Bile pulled one back for Petah Tikva only in stoppage time, with no time left to chase an equaliser.

On paper Petah Tikva had the game, with 56% of the ball. Haifa ran it: 20 shots to 10, seven of them on target. Omer Peretz changed things as early as the 32nd minute, Diego Arroyo for Or Israelov, and five minutes later Yaad Gonen laid it on for Turgeman to open the scoring.

At the break Euclides Andrade Clé made way for Guy Badash, but seven minutes into the second half Haifa were two up: Arial Mendy provided and Sabag made it 2-0. On 57 minutes Roy Levi and Noam Cohen came on for Hamidou Keyta and Karim Kimvuidi, and on 87 Omri Cohen replaced Tomer Altman. That last change brought the goal: Omri Cohen set it up and Bile finished.

Referee Omer Biran showed six yellow cards, three to each side; for Petah Tikva, Clé, Badash and Arroyo.

From the match

Euclides Andrade Clé, Petah Tikva’s number 77, runs at the ball with a Haifa player at his side.
Euclides Andrade Clé, Petah Tikva’s number 77, runs at the ball with a Haifa player at his side.
Or Israelov, number 20, brings the ball forward.
Or Israelov, number 20, brings the ball forward.
Cheickna Diakité, Haifa’s number 21, and a Petah Tikva player go up together for a high ball.
Cheickna Diakité, Haifa’s number 21, and a Petah Tikva player go up together for a high ball.
Yves Erick Bile holds off Liran Rotman to keep the ball.
Yves Erick Bile holds off Liran Rotman to keep the ball.
Bile breaks away with Kričak chasing.
Bile breaks away with Kričak chasing.
Noam Cohen, on from the 57th minute, drives down the line.
Noam Cohen, on from the 57th minute, drives down the line.
Roy Levi, also on in the 57th minute, takes the ball down.
Roy Levi, also on in the 57th minute, takes the ball down.
Yves Erick Bile, hands pressed together.
Yves Erick Bile, hands pressed together.

All the photographs from the match are in the gallery. The Petah Tikva players are on the team page, and the match at Bnei Sakhnin two weeks earlier is here. A frame can be bought in the shop or requested on the contact page. בעברית

Match data: 365Scores and FotMob. All photographs on this page were taken by Asaf Hoffman at this match.