SPORTS DIRECT OLIM LEAGUE
MODI'IN 3 RA'ANANA 3

Avi Wiesenberg insists he is happy with Ra'anana's first-half of the season despite the league leaders being held in a six-goal thriller by a resurgent Modi’in.

Indeed the table-toppers looked in pole position to take maximum points after storming into the a 3-0 lead at half-time, but they could only watch on as Ra'anana rallied superbly in the second 45.

Ra'anana, who remain four points clear, took 10 minutes to settle, with top-scorer Aviad Ben Meir a constant threat. They forged ahead after a period of pressure, with Hillel Bloch on hand to force the ball over the line from a corner.

Ra'anana stepped up a gear and started to spread the play well; Hanani Corney combined with Josh Lipman creating pressuring play down the left and started to really test the Modiin defence. The pressure paid off when Aviad broke away and slotted home to double the lead.

Aviad added Ra’anana’s third five minutes before the break a sublime pass from Eitan Aarsonson saw him break clear taking a decisive shot across the keeper.

Modi’in raised their game in the second half and gained a foothold when Matan Krozier found the net. This was quickly followed by another strike, this time from Omri Encauou.

Ra’anana regained some composure but Modi’in continued to threaten, with Itay Saidoff breaking away from a Ra'anana corner to level and set up a nail-biting last 20.

Ra’anana finished the stronger and it was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Modiin, who conceded 10 corners, but Iliya Kovalov proved to be a impregnable force between the sticks for Modiin and was the only thing keeping Ra’anana from three points. The highlights of his efforts a one-handed save to deny Aviad, as well as somehow managing to keep hold of the ball after a goal-mouth scramble.

Ra’anana were further denied when Zee’ev Landsman was deemed to have handled as he finished off a one-on-one with the keeper.

Modi'in boss Jamie Lazarus Modiin said: "We caught Ra'ananna cold with two goals after the break , and that gave us confidence. We were decisive in taking our chances and defended well.

Ra’anana co-manager Avi Wiesenberg commented: "This feels like two points dropped, but we remain unbeaten and are happy with the position we are in going into the second half of the season.

"It will always be tougher now being the team that everyone wants to be beat and we will need to continue to improve. There is a great belief in the team at the moment and an unbelievable desire to win so we took this result harder than we probably should."