Hap TA holds host Beitar to goalless draw

Hapoel underwent a complete overhaul this summer, with only five players continuing from last season.

By ALLON SINAI
Beitar Jerusalem striker Dovev Gabay (16) and Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder Issou Lingane (left) challenge for the ball during last night’s 0-0 draw at Teddy Stadium in both clubs’ opening match of the season. (photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Beitar Jerusalem striker Dovev Gabay (16) and Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder Issou Lingane (left) challenge for the ball during last night’s 0-0 draw at Teddy Stadium in both clubs’ opening match of the season.
(photo credit: ASAF KLIGER)
Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv drew 0-0 at Teddy Stadium on Monday night, not the start either side was hoping for to its Premier League campaign.
The heated rivalry between both clubs ensured an excellent atmosphere at Teddy, but the level on the pitch didn’t match that in the stands, giving both coaches plenty to mull over.
Beitar was closer to finding the back of the net on Monday, hitting the woodwork twice within a minute in the closing stages.
Hapoel underwent a complete overhaul this summer, with only five players continuing from last season.
Spanish coach Cesar Mendiondo was brought in and 14 new players were signed, and it showed on Monday.
New Beitar coach Slobodan Drapic is still waiting for reinforcements following the exits of Eli Dasa and Shlomi Azulay, with the club still dealing with the fallout of the fan trouble in Europa League qualification last month in Charleroi, Belgium.
Elsewhere, Maccabi Haifa announced on Monday that Eliran Atar will face disciplinary action, but will remain at the club after clashing with coach Roni Levy during Saturday’s shock 3-0 home defeat to newly promoted Bnei Yehuda.
Atar, the league’s top scorer in 2012/13 who joined Haifa in January from French club Stade de Reims, was substituted at halftime before exchanging words with Levy, not for the first time since the coach returned to the club earlier this summer. Atar wasn’t allowed to train on Sunday and Haifa considered releasing him from the club.
However, the Greens ultimately decided to settle for disciplinary action, with the player set to face a heavy fine.
“In a meeting between club president Jacob Shachar and coach Roni Levy the coach reported the motives that brought him to suspend Atar from training. The president justified the suspension and decided to discipline the player in the coming days,” read a club statement.