Champions ‘knocked off their perch’
VAVI Goldberg says HMH “knocked Hendon off their perch” after they blew the title race open by inflicting a first league defeat of the season on the defending champions.
Hendon struck first as Yehuda Korman rose superbly at the far post to place a looping header over Alex Davies and into the net.
HMH, who were missing key players Thomas Prais and Eli Wegrzyn, drew level soon after when a precision cross from Nate Kashket was volleyed home by Dan Hardoon.
The hosts completed the turnaround with a stunning free-kick from Sammy Kington — he hit it so hard and sweetly that it broke the net — and they never looked back.
Goldberg “switched things around at half-time” and played two forwards at full-back. HMH kept things tight for the next 15 minutes and the reintroduction of Oscar Wagner and Dom Feldman helped them secure the points. Two assists from George Goldberg, who had moved to the wing, were converted by Wagner to open a 4-1 advantage and effectively settle the match.
Chaim Korman scored Hendon’s second
Bibras Natkho goal but it was HMH celebrating at full-time.
Goldberg said: “To see us go from a goal down to 2-1 up was a joy to watch. We knew we had to win and win we did with something to spare.
“We are top of the league and as one famous Scottish manager once said, ‘we knocked them off their perch’.”
Hendon boss Jordan Sapler described his team as “masters of their own
Avi Goldberg
VHATEM Abd Elhamed and Manor Solomon will miss Israel’s final two matches of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
Israel host Poland in Jerusalem tomorrow night before they travel to North Macedonia on Tuesday for the final match in Group G.
A poor run of results mean victories in both matches are unlikely to lift Israel, who are captained by Bibras Natkho, into the top two qualifying positions. However, they will still have a chance of progressing to the finals by winning a group comprising four teams at the Nations League playoffs in March.
Should they reach the playoffs, it remains unclear whether manager downfall”. He said: “Unfortunately, if you make mistakes playing HMH they will be punished. We had a very good first half but somehow went in trailing, despite dominating the game and creating lots of chances.
“The second half was a comedy of errors. We handed them three goals due to not marking their players, allowing rebounds and some poor passing.
“Had we taken our chances, the headlines would have been about another Hendon win but when playing against good teams that’s not how it will end.”
Andi Herzog will still be in charge. “I haven’t decided yet,” said Herzog. “My heart tells me to stay but I have to think about my family back in Austria.”
Herzog conceded there is little chance of qualifying directly from Group G but he described the matches as “important because it is an opportunity to improve as a team”.
Eran Zahavi hopes to finish the tournament as the top-scorer. He currently has 11 goals in the Euro 2020 qualifiers two ahead of his nearest rival.
Meanwhile, Burnley are considering a £1 million bid for Celtic’s Israeli international Nir Bitton, according to reports in Scotland.
In a recent interview, Bitton, 28, stated his intention to fight for his place at the SPL champions but he conceded
HMH came from a goal down to beat defending champions Hendon his future is uncertain. He said: “Every season is important but for me. I want to stay at Celtic for as long as I possible can but you never know what’s going to happen in football.”
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is keen to sign Bitton on a cut-price deal as his contract with Celtic runs out in the summer.
Celtic manager Neil Lennon was impressed by the cameo performance of Bitton in the recent Europa League win over Lazio.
Commenting on the player who has featured in central defence and midfield this season, Lennon said: “Nir has been superb for us, but obviously we know about his contract situation and we hope to get something sorted soon.”