Hapoel Haifa is warming up for the derby in the semi-finals of the cup. Elisha Levy’s team tonight (Saturday) broke a streak of eight league games without a win when they defeated Hapoel Hadera 0: 1 at home. A goal by Gal Erel in the 20th minute gave the Reds the victory that raised their balance to 35 points and jumped them to third place in the lower playoffs.
But even on an evening like this, Hapoel Haifa received alarming news: Hanan Maman, who was injured in the first half, was taken to Hillel Yaffe Hospital with a fear of a rib injury, and the team will follow his condition with concern for the big game of the season on the 19th of the month. Hapoel Hadera also saw a worrying injury to its player, with Menashe Zelka also being rushed to hospital with a fear of a fracture in his eye socket after a collision with Ruby Lewkowicz in an attempt to prevent the goal from being absorbed.
Hapoel Hadera, which has long since lost interest in the season, brought up substitutes that included quite a few young players, and was inferior throughout the first half. An early goal by Alon Turgeman was disqualified (3), and that was a sign of things to come. Matthias Liovic, who excelled on the pitch, arranged the winning goal for Gal Erel (20) courtesy of the young Aviv Lin who slipped when he tried to reach the ball, and the following minutes were also controlled by the home team, who deserved a higher advantage.
The second half was conducted on who rests. Hadera woke up a bit and Shoval Gozlan risked the goal twice, but it was not enough. In the bottom line, Hapoel Haifa achieves the goal that is important to it: reducing the pressure before the semifinals.
Hapoel Haifa: Ohad Levita, Dor Malul, Guy Mishpati, Izochuko Anthony, Ben Wahba, Noam Cohen, Gal Erel, Hanan Maman, Matthias Liovich, Alan Ozbolt, Alon Turgeman.
Hadera operating vehicle: Ruby Levkovich, Menashe Zelka, Ido Levy, Aviv Lin, Jonathan Sisa, Dolev Azruel, Tamir Glazer, Gilad Abramov, Afik Katan, Steven Alfred, Shoval Gozlan.