Beach Soccer in Israel

Infobox sports league
logo=IsraelBeachSoccerChampLogo.jpg
sport=Beach Soccer
founded=2007
teams=10
country=ISR
champion="90FM" princes Hadera
website= [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=1755]
ceo=
TV=Sport 5

The Israeli Beach Soccer league - "Ligat Bank Yahav" was inaugurated in July 2007 under the supervision of the Israel Football Association. To celebrate the launch of the league, a friendly game between national teams of England and Israel was played, with the Israelis winning 6-5.

League

The league first edition took place every Friday at Netanya Poleg beach on newly built beach sports stadium. The players participating in "ligat San-Miguel" were active and retired football players, Futsal players and some talents who was found by the league scouts. At the end of the season, "Netanya's diamonds" won the championship, after beating "MZ Rosh HaAyin" 5-2 in the final. [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=1742] (Hebrew)] An average of 9.23 goals per match was scored during the season, higher average than the average in most of the beach soccer World Cups.

The second season of "Ligat Bank Yahav" featured ten teams divided to two groups of five. Each team played one game against the teams in its group. The top four teams in each group qualified to the quarter finals, which was played on July 18 and 25.
The final-four matches and the relegation playoff were played on August 1. "90FM" princes Hadera won the championship in its first season in the league, after a 7-6 win against "Shav'e Shav'e" Jerusalem.
The average number of goals dropped drastically in comparison with the first season, with 261 goals in 33 games, an average of 7.9 goals in a match.

Regular league

Pts - Points won; W - Matches won; L - Matches lost; L (pso) - Matches lost after penalty shootout; GF - Goals for; GA - Goals against; GD - Goals difference.
Win = 3 Pts; Loss = 0 Pts; Loss after Penalty shootout = 1 Pt

Quarterfinals

In the quarterfinals, the first team in each group faced the fourth team in the second group, and the second team in each group faced the third team in the second group. The teams played two games, home and away (although all of the games were played in the same stadium), with away goals rule, therefore, extra time or penalty shootout weren't used, and would have only been used if the two games would have ended in the same score.
In the first leg of the quarterfinals between "Lising Yashir" Netanya and Ironi "REMI" Rosh HaAyin, a red card was shown for the first time in the league's two seasons. Two more red cards were shown later at the game.

Final four

The draw for the final-four matches was made on July 27 and the matches were played on August 1. After the two semifinals, a relegation playoff match was played. Later, the match for the third place was played.
At the afternoon, the final was played. "90FM" princes Hadera won the championship at its first season in the league, after defeating "Shav'e Shav'e" Jerusalem 7-6.

Round4-with third
August 1, Netanya |"Shav'e Shav'e" Jerusalem| 6 (1)|Bnei "Falfala" Kafr Qasim|6 (0)
August 1, Netanya |"90FM" princes Hadera|6|Ironi "REMI" Rosh HaAyin|1
August 1, Netanya |"Shav'e Shav'e" Jerusalem|6|"90FM" princes Hadera|7
August 1, Netanya |Bnei "Falfala" Kafr Qasim|9|Ironi "REMI" Rosh HaAyin|10 (aet)

Relegation playoff

The two 5th-ranked team from each group played a relegation playoff match on August 1. "Caza du Brazil" Eilat won the match by five goals to three and will play in the top league in the 2009 season. ASA Ben Gurion Beer Sheva, who lost the match, may be relegated to the second league, if it will established.

Israeli teams in Europe

After the first season of the league, the champion, Netanya's Diamonds, was invited to participate in the European Beach Soccer champions league. Netanya finished fourth, after defeating the Estonian champions 10-4 in the quarterfinals, losing to the Czech champions 7-8 after extra time in the semifinals, and losing to the Spanish champions 6-8 in the match for third place. [ [http://www.kan-naim.co.il/artical.asp?id=12423&cid=177] (Hebrew)] [ [http://www.netanya-city.co.il/artical.asp?id=12801&cid=177] (Hebrew)] [ [http://www.kan-naim.co.il/artical.asp?id=11962&cid=177] (Hebrew)] [ [http://www.netanya.muni.il/?CategoryID=2001&ArticleID=2374] (Hebrew)]
The runner-up, "MZ" Rosh HaAyin, was invited to the Capital Cup, the equivalent of association football's UEFA Cup. Rosh HaAyin won the tournament, after defeating AEK Limasol 3-1, Apoel Nicosia 5-2, AEK Thessaloniki 3-2 and Boca Juniors 6-3 in the final. [ [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/3/ART1/753/379.html] (Hebrew)]

National team

In June 2007 newborn Israeli national team first participated in Group B qualifying games of Euro Beach Soccer League in Athens. After 6-6 draw they lose by penalty kicks to Russia, and celebrated first ever victory on Greece 2-1.

Diamonds Tournament

In August 2007 first ever Pro Beach Soccer Tour "Diamonds Tournament" [ [http://www.beachsoccer.com/comp_news_enlarge.php?idnew=327&idn=0&seccion=2&action=close&id=0/ Netanya’s Diamonds Cup brings top-notch action to Israel] beachsoccer.com] was held in Israel. Four teams: Germany, Turkey, Israel and France led by Eric Cantona [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1186557403913/ Cantona in Israel for beach soccer tournament] Jerusalem Post] [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1186557422804&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull/ Notebook: Cantona rolls back the years] Jerusalem Post] , took part. In the final Israel won Germany 4-3 [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1186557422797/ Beach Soccer: Israel triumph in tourney] Jerusalem Post] .

2008 Challenge Cup

In June 2008 the FIFA Beach Soccer Challenge Cup was held in Israel. The six national teams competed to achieve single ticket to Group A of Euro Beach Soccer League. Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Norway & Turkey took part. Israeli national team won the tournament [ [http://www.beachsoccer.com/bs2008/competition/news/002.php?id=3&idn=425&f=1 Israel thrills in Challenge Cup and reaches final] www.beachsoccer.com] beating in final Germany 4-3.

References