Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., July 21, 2008 Tamuz 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:25 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Soccer / Spain's Deportivo proves too much for plucky Bnei Sakhnin By Haaretz Sports Staff Bnei Sakhnin fell 2-1 last night to Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna in its UEFA Intertoto Cup match at Haifa's Kiryat Eliezer stadium. Coach Freddy David's club set the tone for much of the battle, but in the end the Spanish powerhouse prevailed over the club of modest means from the Galilee. Advertisement The Intertoto Cup is a UEFA-run tournament for clubs that fail to qualify for either the Champions League or the UEFA Cup. Without star defender Khaled Khalaila, sitting the game out due to an accumulation of yellow cards, but with Ghanaian midfielder Bernard Bortey making his debut appearance, Sakhnin made a convincing start to the match. Sakhnin had several scoring chances in the first half, but missed opportunities by Ali Ottman, Meir Luzon and Haim Banoon kept the score tied at zero at the half. The second half saw Deportivo step into its own, as Miguel Angel Lotina's Spanish side struck twice in rapid succession to bury the boys in red. First it was Angel Lafita, who in the 54th minute beat Sakhnin back Alaa Abu Saleh for a goal, then two minutes later forward Riki was left alone to chalk one up for himself. An own goal in the 61st minute by Alberto Lopo put Sakhnin back in contention, as a bullet by Bassam Ghanaim deflected off of the defender into his own net. The home team applied strong pressure on Deportivo, threatening keeper Fabricio, and young Sakhnin keeper Omri Alon made a number of impressive saves, keeping the Spaniards from opening a wider lead. Sakhnin now faces the daunting prospect of playing Deportivo on its home pitch in Galicia. If it can pull off the nearly impossible, it will win a ticket to the UEFA Cup. Awat: I will fight for place on Deportivo Meanwhile, the drama continues over the fate of Deportivo's Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Awat. The keeper still has two years on his contract, but the club's administration has shown interest in letting him go ahead of next season. Awat, for his part, is not rejecting the possibility of remaining on the team roster even if he is not its starting keeper. "My whole career, no one ever promised me to be a starting goalie," he said yesterday. "This season as well I will battle for my place on the team. People are making a tragedy out of this whole story, but it's really not so tragic. It's legitimate if a coach chooses one goalie or another," he said. Asked about whether the row at Deportivo might hurt his chances with Israel's national team, Awat sounded unfazed. "I'm not worried about anything. There is a coach there who will decide what is right. I'll accept any decision, even if it hurts me." Awat arrived with his team in Haifa for last night's match, but did not see playing time. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'Icon of evil' Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show. Caught on film Human rights group releases video of IDF soldier shooting Palestinian at short range.

Read & React Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel, is not interested in war Responses: 139 OPINION: Essential things Israelis and Iranians should know about each other Responses: 116 Uzi Beniziman: Iranian bomb threatens the world more than it does Tel Aviv Responses: 45 VIDEO: Troops shoot bound Palestinian at short range Responses: 77 Emmanuel Sivan: Israel's negotiator exploited Nasrallah's weaknesses Responses: 38 More Headlines 23:28 Barak: Israel will do all it can to bring Shalit home 23:27 MI chief: Hezbollah may try to attack north soon 22:43 VIDEO: IDF soldier shoots bound Palestinian at short range 23:36 'I was attacked because I'm Arab' 21:13 Hitler icons take center stage at Jerusalem students' end-of-year art show 13:44 Model Zionist: Bar Refaeli poses for Jewish swimsuit calendar 20:11 Holding photo of Gilad Shalit, Betancourt urges 'freedom for everyone' 00:39 VIDEO / Olmert's lawyer: Police pressure shaped Talansky testimony 22:23 Brown: U.K. a true friend of Israel, will work toward terror-free future 16:23 Ahmadinejad's deputy: Iran is a friend of Israel 00:22 U.S. Jews honor Polish Holocaust rescuers at Warsaw gathering 21:22 Israel taps Professor Gabriela Shalev as new UN ambassador Previous Editions Select Day 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Dan Hotels Israel Live the Legend & experience an Unforgettable Summer Vacation Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved