kiryat shmona put four past neftçi published: wednesday 1 august 2012, 21.15cet hapoel kiryat shmona fc 4-0 neftçi pfk the debutants have one foot in the play-offs after a comprehensive first-leg victory against their azerbaijani visitors.
debutants hapoel kiryat shmona fc took a sizeable step towards a place in the uefa champions league play-offs with a 4-0 first-leg defeat of neftçi pfk.
the deadlock was broken three minutes before the interval, when barak badash converted a penalty. shimon abihazira doubled the lead early in the second half, with bryan gerzicich then scoring twice in six minutes to put the match – and perhaps the tie – beyond neftçi.
the opening goal arrived at the perfect time for the hosts. igor mitreski fouled el'ad gabai, allowing badash to convert the resulting penalty. despite the half-time interval, neftçi failed to regroup and abihazira increased hapoel's advantage seven minutes into the second period, racing onto a long ball and lifting neatly over the onrushing goalkeeper.
gerzicich then stole the show with a quick-fire double, firing in loose balls from substitute ravid gazal's 70th and 76th-minute corners to leave his side in a commanding position going into next wednesday's second leg.
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