[Raful]

4 games to go, Maccaib Haifa are nearly crowned as champions and in the bottom, Kiryat Gat, Beitar and Haifa all in deep ****. Who will go down, what will happen? predictions? can the final round decide anything in your opinion?

 

[Gilli]

I've already commented on the bottom elsewhere, but to make it short, I believe that two of the 3 you mentioned will go down. Which one of them will be saved I can't foresee.

At the top Haifa will remain Champions, Hapoel can't change it no matter what they do (technically they can still clinch the title but they need Haifa to drop 7 points in 4 games). Maccabi Haifa need 5 points off their next 4 games in order to be officialy crowned as Champions, and infact they can win the league on Saturday already, provided they beat Rishon and Hapoel loses at home to Netanya (highly unlikely, but...).

 

[Raful]

It will be interesting to follow.

 

[Gilli]

 1. Maccabi_Haifa   29    20   7   2    65  -  29    67
 2. Hapoel_TA       29    18   6   5    49  -  27    60
 3. Maccabi_TA      29    12  11   6    34  -  21    47
 4. MS_Ashdod       29    13   6  10    42  -  45    45
 5. Hap_Beer_Sheva  29    12   6  11    39  -  40    42
 6. Hapoel_PT       29    11   8  10    35  -  31    41
 7. Mac_Netanya     29     9   6  14    33  -  40    33
 8. Maccabi_PT      29     7  11  11    29  -  38    32
 9. Rishon_le_Zion  29     9   4  16    33  -  46    31
10. Hapoel_Haifa    29     7   8  14    33  -  42    29
-------------------------------------------------------
11. Mac_Kiriat_Gat  29     7   5  17    28  -  47    26
12. Beitar_Jm       29     5  10  14    29  -  43    25

Let's analyze the situation here, shall we.

There are over 90% chances that Maccabi Haifa will retain the title this season. Hapoel Tel Aviv have secured themselves the second place so they will play in the UEFA Cup next season as well. After their elimination from the cup, the 'battle for 3rd place' has become meaningless as the team which will finish 3rd can't make Europe and will have to comfort themselves with an Intertoto spot. :tongue: The winner of the State cup will be rewarded with the 3rd ticket to Europe, unless Maccabi Haifa makes the final and in that situation, the Cup runners-up should get their UEFA Cup place even if they lose in the final.

 

[berko]

Well there is nothing much to say here as just a disaster takes away the championship from Maccabi Haifa. Hapoel Tel-Aviv failed when it couldn't. As for the relegation battle I think three team s will be fighting for it Beitar Jerusalem Maccabi Kiriat Gat and Hapoel Haifa I don't think that Ironi Rishon LeTzion, Maccabi Petah Tikva or Maccabi Netanya will fight against even though they aren't too far away form the red line. It will be very intresting to watch this battle.

 

[Raful]

Winning the state cup isnt mission impossible, Maccabi has an easy route to the final if we beat Kiryat Shmona we will face one of the Petah Tikva teams.


Question is how will the announcement that Levil won't continue as a coach effect them

 

[Gilli]

Today's results

Maccabi Kiryat Gat 1:2 Maccabi Petah Tikva

Malihi opened the score on 14th minutes, Dovrubin equalised in the second half, and Refua scored the winning goal 8 minutes from time.


Ashdod S.C 0:1 Hapoel Petah Tikva

After eliminating Hapoel Tel-Aviv out of the State Cup, P.T won again. This time - Away to Ashdod thanks to a 2nd half goal from Motti Kakun who also missed a penalty-kick.

I think that Maccabi Petah Tikva have practically secured their survival while Kiryat Gat's chances of avoiding relegation were dented.

 8. Maccabi_PT      30     7  11  11    31  -  39    35
 9. Rishon_le_Zion  29     9   4  16    33  -  46    31
10. Hapoel_Haifa    29     7   8  14    33  -  42    29
-------------------------------------------------------
11. Mac_Kiriat_Gat  30     7   5  17    29  -  49    26
12. Beitar_Jm       29     5  10  14    29  -  43    25

 

[Gilli]

Yerushalayim Lo Tired........

:happy:


3:0, goals from Zohar (2), one penalty-kick and the 3rd one from Moti Menahem. Awesome fighting spirit by everyone today, never broke down not even after Talesnikov's sending off. Now we're only 1 point off Haifa. I might give an extended report later.


Other results;

Maccabi TA 4 - 0 Hap. Be'er Sheva (4 2nd half goals)

Hap TA 1 - 1 Mac. Netanya (Clescenco, Vilner)

Maccabi Haifa is currently 2:1 up against Ironi Rishon, goals from Zutautas and Badir for Haifa and Holtsman from the spot for Rishon.

 

[Raful]

Impressive victories for Maccabi and Beitar.

 

[berko]

It looks like the relegation battle will be tight.