Soccer / Hapoel Tel Aviv trip up in domestic season's opener

The Israeli soccer season got underway in earnest yesterday, with six games in the Toto Cup. Reigning league champions Hapoel Tel Aviv had disappointing start to its campaign, losing 2-1 to Bnei Sakhnin at the Doha Stadium.

Midfielder Mohamed Abu Raiya opened the scoring in 25th minute, and when Hamad Ganayem doubled the home team's advantage midway through the second half it was clear that Hapoel was heading for a defeat. Victor Merey pulled one back for Hapoel in 70th minute, but Sakhnin held on for the win.

Elsewhere, Hapoel Ashkelon earned a creditable 2-2 draw against Beitar Jerusalem at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan. Playing in the oppressive mid-afternoon heat, the players could have been forgiven for underperforming, but instead they gave the handful of spectators who braved the heat a pulsating and thoroughly entertaining match.

Beitar took the lead after just five minutes, when Idan Tal scored from the penalty spot. Erik Gawo leveled in the 26th minute with a close-range header, before Fernandez scored the goal of the game - a screaming 18-meter rocket - to restore Beitar's advantage. Eight minutes later, however, the home side was back on level terms when Mahmoud Abbas (no relation ) scored from the penalty spot.

Elsewhere, former Aston Villa manager John Gregory, who moved from Ahi Nazareth to Ashdod over the summer, got off to a winning start in his new job with a 2-1 victory over Hapoel Be'er Sheva.

In yesterday's other games, Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and Hapoel Haifa played out a dull 0-0 draw, while Bnei Yehuda needed a last-gasp equalizer to draw 1-1 against Hapoel Petah Tikva.

The biggest winner of the day was Maccabi Petah Tikva, which recorded an impressive 3-1 road victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan.