Injury time winner lifts Beersheba at Bloomfield

Gabai’s goal four minutes into stoppage time secures 2-1 victory over Bnei Yehuda, closing gap from top.

By ALLON SINAI
Hapoel Beersheba striker Dovev Gabai celebrates after scoring his team’s winner in the 94th minute of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield Stadium. (photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Hapoel Beersheba striker Dovev Gabai celebrates after scoring his team’s winner in the 94th minute of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Bnei Yehuda at Bloomfield Stadium.
(photo credit: Asaf Kliger)
Despite trailing Bnei Yehuda until the 90th minute, a Dovev Gabai winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave Hapoel Beersheba a dramatic 2-1 victory at Bloomfield Stadium on Saturday night.
Amir Agajev handed Bnei Yehuda the lead in the 47th minute, but Maor Buzaglo curled the ball into the back of the net with his free kick from 20 meters out in the 90th minute before providing the assist for Gabai’s header four minutes later to keep alive Beersheba’s Premier League title hopes.
Beersheba, which also erased a 1-0 deficit to beat Bnei Yehuda 2-1 in the final five minutes of their first meeting of the season in September, closed to within three points of league-leader Maccabi Tel Aviv, which visits Ironi Kiryat Shmona on Monday.
“Everything is going our way this season,” said Beersheba’s beaming coach Elisha Levy. “We believe in ourselves and we want to do whatever we can to remain as close as possible to Maccabi.”
Two goals in seven second half minutes gave Maccabi Haifa a 2-1 victory over Bnei Sakhnin at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium on Saturday, bringing the Greens within two points of third place.
Haifa claimed just its second win in its past five matches thanks to goals from Hen Ezra (49) and Shoval Gozlan (55), with Mohamed Kalibat netting a 77th-minute consolation goal from the penalty spot for Sakhnin, which remained in third place despite suffering its second straight loss.
After losing five and drawing one of its first six road games of the campaign, Ashdod SC finally recorded its first away victory on Saturday, coming twice from behind to beat Hapoel Ramat Hasharon 3-2.
Ben Reichert (11) gave the hosts the lead before Bentzi Moshel (49) equalized, only for Hasan Sayaf (53) to put Ramat Hasharon back in front four minutes later. However, David Solari (68) and Alexander Davidov (82) would complete the comeback, sending Ramat Hasharon back to the relegation zone.
Maccabi Petah Tikva leapfrogged Ramat Hasharon courtesy of a 3-1 win at Hapoel Acre. Marwan Kabha gave Petah Tikva the lead in the first minute and Victor Merey (37) and Pedro Galvan (48) secured the three points before Elior Syder (70) netted a consolation goal for the hosts.
Beitar Jerusalem squandered two precious points on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Hapoel Ra’anana at Teddy Stadium.
Aviram Bruchian handed Beitar the lead in the second minute, but the visitors would grab a share of the spoils thanks to Ben Malka’s goal one minute from time.
All of Saturday’s matches began with one minute’s silence in honor of Arik Sharon.
Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Hapoel Haifa on Sunday.