1994/1995 Liga Leumit

Pre-season outlook

The team, promoted for the first time were kind of like Barnsley in England in 97/98. They were a cute team, neutral favorite, and 100% sure of relegation. Unlike Barnsley, they survived. Even Avi Ratzon, a notorious TV analyst proclaimed his sympathy to the team (believe me, getting him to like anything his a great feat!) Coach Elisha Levi, like Danny Wilson built a competitive team on a very low budget, that surprised many. The star was Argentinan midfielder Claudio Kahimi, but he was helped by striker Nasim Agbariya (now in Taibe), Shimon Danan (Kfar Saba) and 'keeper Meir Cohen.

Treading new water

The season started fairly well. The 1st 4 home games were held in Tiberias, because the stadium in Beit She'an was still being upgraded to Leumit status.

3 more games without a loss. The loss in Haifa didn't have that doom effect after all. Then came the 1st real upset

In the first game in Beit She'an the champions-to-be were handed their 4th defeat (out of 5). Iremember the grass being perfect except 3 stripes of mud on the sideline. This proved the team meant business

A fair end to the 1st half of the season. 21 points, 8th place. The team was voted surprise of the year (so far) and Elisha Levi was runner -up coach of the year (so far). Avi Ratzon was the analyst in the stadium for the popular radio show Songs and Goals (like the radio show Trevor Brocking hosts on BBC Radio), the only time I remember him leaving the main studio. I also remember that, against, Beer Sheva, the teams changed uniforms at half-time. Because of the muddy field, all shirts became brown.

During the (unnecessary) winter break Romanian Daniel Scinteie was brought and scored 7 of the team's 14 goals in the spring.

So far, so good. A little drop in the standings but nothing major. In the game against Petach Tikva, Meir Cohen let in a goal from the halfway line. Being knocked out of the Cup wasn't a major disappiontment.

4 games with 0 goals and 1 point signalled something wrong. I was at the game against Hapoel Haifa, the 1st time I had been in Beit She'an. That began a curse than the team didn't win when I attended the game (1 tie, 5 losses). The curse ended 1.1.99 against Rishon (4-2). 0-6 at home against Beitar Tel Aviv must have one of the most humiliating defeats the team ever had. The next 5 games were the backbone of the documentary film about the team-"Beit She'an-Seret Milhama" (Beit She'an-War Movie).

Beit She'an's first game on TV didn't end well. Meir Cohen was injured after 70 minutes and replaced by Shlomi Maman. The game stayed 0-0 until the 94th minute. Referee Danny Koren let the game go until Maccabi Tel Aviv scored. He is known as a Maccabi Tel Aviv fan and has helped them more than one since. The goal was ridiculous. Shukanov (Belarus) lobbed from 40 meters out and the ball went off Maman's knee and in. Maman didn't seem too sorry about it in the movie and was bought by Beitar Jerusalem to be their 2nd string goalie.

Two more losses sent Beit She'an to last place with a very poor goal difference. The loss to fellow strugglers Ashdod seemed to end it. Remember, bottom 2 are relegated. The bottom of the table looked like this:

    Round 29                                                           Round 30
Beit She'an-Maccabi Netanya                      Maccabi Haifa-Hapoel Beit She'an
Maccabi Herzliya-Ironi Ashdod                    Maccabi Petach Tikva-Ironi Ashdod
                                                 Maccabi Netanya-Maccabi Herzliya

20.05.95

Beit She'an Maccabi Netanya 1-0 (Scienteie) I remember the goal was from a corner and he "91st Minute" (that's the evening round-up program on TV) cameras missed the corner and only caught the header itself and the goal.
Ironi Ashdod beat Herzliya 2-0

Wow! Now look at the top of the table

Remember, Beit She'an play at Maccabi Haifa. Maccabi tel Aviv goes to Beer Sheva, a team undefeated at home. At win for Haifa and anything else for Tel Aviv gives Maccabi Haifa the championship. Netanya-Herzliya is a do-or-die game. A tie could kill them both. Maccabi Petach Tikva (against Ashdod)didn't have what to play for.
Herzliya beat Netanya to end Netanya's 31 consecutive year in the Leumit. Ashdod tied Petach Tikva 1-1. That meant Beit She'an needed to win. Until the 40th minute, Maccabi Tel Aviv was 0-0 and Maccabi Haifa was up 2-0 against Beit She'an. But, Tel Aviv scored and Beit She'an did the unbelieveable and won 3-2. The final standings look like this.