Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., October 07, 2008 Tishrei 8, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:36 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar 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 / Mac. Netanya coach turns mediocrity into first place By Moshe Boker Lothar Matthaus and Maccabi Netanya engineered another victory last night as only the German coach seems to know how to do in this league, claiming a 1-0 victory against Maccabi Tel Aviv and sole possession of first place. The coach has taken a lot of heat since arriving in Israel this past summer, but he managed a brilliant game yesterday. Using mediocre players he was able to leave the national stadium in Ramat Gan with three points. Advertisement The highlight came in the 88th minute, when Dedi Ben Dayan sent a free kick over to the South African Bevan Fransman, who blasted a shot that amazed the Netanya faithful in the stands. Now, Maccabi Tel Aviv's coach, Ran Ben Shimon, has a big problem. If team owner Alex Shnaider had seen the game, he might have been left doubting the wisdom of keeping Ben Shimon long-term. To his credit, Ben Shimon showed boldness by breaking with his strategy in the Maccabi Petah Tikva match. This time, he inserted Yannick Kamanan as a second striker into the lineup and sent Jonathan Assous to the bench. But this setup barely lasted an hour. In the 62nd minute, he took out Kamanan in favor of Rudy Haddad. From that moment on Maccabi Tel Aviv disappeared from the match, and Netanya merely waited for its chance to strike. Maccabi actually had several chances to go up early in the match. In the 7th minute, Avi Yehiel launched a missile from 14 meters, but goalkeeper Liran Strauber just barely deflected the shot. Two minutes later, Tel Aviv's Guillermo Israilevich fired an attempt from 16 meters, which Strauber barely deflected as well. Strauber preserved the scoreless draw again at the end of the half, positioning himself in the right place to receive a strike from Yossi Shivhon. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Forgotten peace French FM: I fear distracted world may forget Mideast peace process. Settlers vs. Shin Bet Daniela Weiss: Shin Bet behind attack on left-wing advocate prof. Sternhell.

Read & React Burston: Obama-hate, and Sarah Palin's War on Terror Responses: 166 Amir Oren: Nuclear deterrence attributed to Israel doesn't affect its enemies' plans Responses: 40 Livni to France's Kouchner: I oppose Olmert's peace plan Responses: 119 U.S. Jewish group recruits former Israeli defense officials for pro-Obama ad Responses: 55 Editorial: Livni mustn't decide to strike Iran out of a desire for prestige Responses: 24 More Headlines 00:07 NATO chief: Given Iran nukes, we can't ask Israel to disarm 16:21 Hezbollah source: 'Big surprise' awaits Israel if it attacks Lebanon 22:23 Thousands rally in Rabin Square to ask Shalit for forgiveness 10:43 Obama-hate, and Sarah Palin's War on Terror 20:39 Lebanese union to sue Israel for 'claiming ownership' of falafel 22:27 Abramovitch building mega-yacht with world-class security system 19:56 Haifa Chief Rabbi at Vatican: Wartime Pope let Jews down 20:44 U.S. warns Syria against sending ground troops into Lebanon 17:37 Orthodox join growing Israeli trend of spending Yom Kippur in hotels 00:11 VIDEO / Gaydamak submits candidacy for Jerusalem mayor, as trial opens against him in Paris 11:21 Was Egyptian ex-Mossad agent murdered in London? 12:17 Palestinians sue Israel for not evacuating West Bank outpost 22:07 Jerusalem property tax debts delay transfer of Sergei complex to Russians 14:23 Heftsiba's Yona convicted of litany of charges including fraud, theft 14:22 Austrian teens visit Auschwitz - then vote for Joerg Haider Previous Editions Select Day 06 oct 05 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct 30 sep 29 sep 28 sep 26 sep 25 sep 24 sep 23 sep

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