A goal headed by Shlomi Arbeitman was enough for Haifa to get off on the right foot in the "Toto Cup" games. It will need at least such a goal this coming Tuesday in the return match against Aktobe from Kazakhstan
By Yitzhak Haberman
As in the European Cup, Maccabi Haifa opened the "Toto Cup" games, the third important tournament in Israel, with a win on its' field over Maccabi Petach-Tikva 1:0.
The visitors never beat Haifa in an away game and this time they also enjoyed outstanding misses by Haifa's players which prevented the score from growing. Petach-Tikva also had two misses that met the post in the second half.
Haifa's coach, Elisha Levy, made a few adjustments in order to enable key players to rest towards the return match against Aktobe, Kazakhstan's Champion, on Tuesday. Eyal Mshumar, Peter Masilela, Yaniv Katan and John Kolma received total rest, and yet Haifa's bench is so rich that even the substitutes are first lineup players such as the Portuguese stopper Teixeira, the Georgian scorer Davlishvli and the youth scorer Muhammad Gadir who has a permanent place in the opening lineup.
Haifa's coach, Elisha Levy, made a few adjustments in order to enable key players to rest towards the return match against Aktobe, Kazakhstan's Champion, on Tuesday. Eyal Mshumar, Peter Masilela, Yaniv Katan and John Kolma received total rest, and yet Haifa's bench is so rich that even the substitutes are first lineup players such as the Portuguese stopper Teixeira, the Georgian scorer Davlishvli and the youth scorer Muhammad Gadir who has a permanent place in the opening lineup.
For Haifa excelled Gustavo Boccoli, Lior Refaelov and in the second half Eyal Golasa. The only goal was scored on the 48th minute, a header by Shlomi Arbeitman. The goalie, Ohad Cohen stopped and with the return ball Haifa's scorer found the net-1:0 to Haifa. Haifa's players and coach would buy this score on Tuesday as well.
Haifa's lineup: Amir Edri, Harazi, Keinan (Teixeira), Maimon, Tawabcha, Kial (Zaguri), Boccoli, Refaelov (Gdir), Golasa, Arbeitman, Bello (Davlishvli).
