Game No. 1 ended in all 4 series of playoff quarterfinal series in the Winner League, and Game No. 2 – which could also be decisive for promotion to the semifinals – is just around the corner. After Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Hapoel Ashdod took a 0: 1 lead on Friday against Holon and Kiryat Ono (respectively) – tonight the two additional series began. Scored in a game that took place in ‘Oranim’ – and ended in 40:41 (19:20) to the credit of the host Ramat Hasharon.
Maccabi Rishon LeZion defeated Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin 26:33. The second game will take place on Wednesday, when Motzkin will host Maccabi Rishon Lezion (19:30, Goshen), and Herzliya Ramat Hasharon (20:00, the first). Even before that – tomorrow (Monday) the second game in the series between Hapoel Rishon LeZion and Holon (19:30) and between Hapoel Kiryat Ono and Ashdod (20:30) will take place.
Tonight – Hapoel Ramat Gan returns to the Premier League, after a 20:27 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva (Sean Rivkin, the goalkeeper of the reserve team was the outstanding player in the Ramat Gan), and joins AS Tel Aviv, which earlier guaranteed its promotion to the senior league.
As mentioned, no one is surprised by the result of Ramat Hasharon’s game against Herzliya, since in most of the meetings between them in recent years, an average of 75 goals have been scored per game. After a close game – Ramat Hasharon found itself with a 3-goal advantage – 45 seconds to go, but conquests by Ben Liberty and Alon Oberman narrowed the gap to the goal – and even if there was a tie – this game – would have gone into overtime. Conquerors: Ram Turknitz 11 (and 8 assists), Milan Pavlovich 8, Amit Mottola and Yossi Apo 5 each, Daniel Tzarfati 4, Marco Chorcic, Daniel Shekalim and Tal Hershkovitz 2 each, Eden G. Inji and Ivan Moshitz 1 each. Herzliya Liberty scored 11 goals, Vladica Stoyanovich 9, Alon Oberman 8, Gal Schneider, Nemanja Goykovich Dusan Andreevich 3 each, Barak Carmon 2, Milos Boishic 1. Goalkeepers: Oren Mayrowitz 9 of 41 and Sagi Bonis 2 of 11. Judges Yossi Yemini and Oren Itin.
In the second meeting tonight – Maccabi Rishon LeZion defeated Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin 26:33 (13:14). They defeated Maccabi Rishon LeZion. Branko Kankarsh and Nadav Nizri 7 each, Ivan Kracic 4, Niv Shemen and Poleg Asaig 3 each, Dor Calderon, Niv Zoref, Guy Cordova and Gaffer Khadzimrovich 2 each, Itai Shlama 1. Eldar Shikloshi finished with 15 stops Out of 41 shots – 36%.
Will a decision be reached tomorrow in the two parallel series? As mentioned, on Friday history was recorded in the Winner League playoffs, following the change of constitution this season – which in the case of a tie – the game is dragged to a decision in overtime and if penalties are needed. It was a game that opened with complete control of the Holonites, who led by 7 goals. Hapoel Rishon LeZion knew how to come back – and at the end of the sixty minutes a tie was recorded 31:31.
By the way, this is the Reds’ first victory over Holon this season after two draws in the regular league and the top house, and a 30:25 loss also in the top house in Nahalat Yehuda. As mentioned, Hapoel’s victory tomorrow – and it’s in the semifinals. Holon’s victory and the series will be taken to a decisive third game in “Katzir”. In the series between Kiryat Ono and Ashdod – Ono will surely strive to achieve its first victory this season over Ashdod, which it will want to close interest – even before the possibility of returning to the hall on Friday. By the way, the first meeting of the season between the two was in the Winner’s Cup final – which Ashdod won.
Looking at the House of Survival – where the second round will take place – it is possible that the fate of the second national descendant next to Beer Sheva will be determined tomorrow. AK Ness Ziona survived following the victory on Friday against Maccabi Dimona 28:30. Tomorrow she will host Hapoel Hevel Eilot (19:00, Zimmerman). A goal by Kesem Amiel in the closing seconds gave Eilot a critical victory over Beer Sheva 37:38. Its advantage now is 3 points over Dimona – and also assuming that Dimona beats Beer Sheva (20:00) – Eilot needs a point to ensure a stay.
In the event that Natz wins – and also Dimona – the decision on Friday in the last round of the hot meeting at Kibbutz Yotvata between Eilot and Dimona (which will have to win).