Week 1 brings us a match on Mar 19th, where Maccabi Bnei Raina will travel to Sakhnin to battle Bnei Sakhnin in a Ligat ha’Al match. Weather on match day is looking like a cloudy and cool day, with daytime temperatures of only 15 degrees, which will be a great treat for players. In their last match, 2nd placed Bnei Sakhnin, recorded a 2-0 shutout win against Beitar Jerusalem. Nicolao Dumitru struck first for Bnei Sakhnin in the 67th minute, then Dor Hugy added another in the 85th minute on a feed from Obeida Darwish At the end of 90 a dissapointed Beitar Jerusalem couldn’t manage to score, and Bnei Sakhnin took the shutout win. Bnei Sakhnin is looking for direction having earned 14 points in their last 10 matches, while maccabi Bnei Raina is fresh off their 1-0 shutout win against Hapoel Katamon. Mark Koszta scored the first goal for Maccabi Bnei Raina in the 59th minute on a penalty kick, and that single goal was all that was necessary as neither team could manage any more scoring In the end, Hapoel Katamon couldn’t muster any offence and Maccabi Bnei Raina ran away with the shutout win. Maccabi Bnei Raina looks to improve on their recent performance, having earned only 9 points in their last 10 matches.
Maccabi Bnei Raina and Bnei Sakhnin last played eachother at the Doha Stadium on Feb 11th. Bnei Sakhnin and Maccabi Bnei Raina battled to a 1-1 draw. Beram Kayal struck first for Bnei Sakhnin in the 58th minute, but Ahmad Abedzadeh got the equalizer for Maccabi Bnei Raina in the 90th minute earning Maccabi Bnei Raina at least a draw.
Mark Koszta has been on a hot streak lately. In the last five games, hes scored 5 goals for Maccabi Bnei Raina. Bnei Sakhnin’s most prolific scorer has been Dor Hugy. The Israeli attacker has netted three goals over the last five matches.