Hapoel Beersheba leapfrogs Beitar Jerusalem back into first place

With the yellow-and-blue featuring four different goal scorers, Dor Peretz headed home the opening marker in the fourth minute. Ariel Sheratzky drew the hosts even at 1-1 less than 10 minutes later; however, that was as close as Shai Barda’s squad would get, as Sayed Abu Farchi scored from the penalty spot and Osher Davida found the back of the goal just prior to the break for a 3-1 advantage at halftime.

Kervin Andrade’s smart low liner from inside the box in the 64th minute made it 4-1 as Maccabi rolled to the comfortable victory.

“The first half we were really active, and I loved the energy and reactions of the team,” Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new head coach, Delia, began. “We created chances, and it was a very good half. We dropped in the second half, and I don’t know why, maybe due to concentration and playing many games. But it was a good start, and we can build on it. We were more direct and good on our pressing; those are things we want to see.”

In other action, Hapoel Beersheba got by Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 as the Southern Reds scored a goal in each half against the 10-man host, which saw Mor Brami issued a red card in the second minute to, for all intents and purposes, decide the game before it began.

The victory moved Beersheba back into first place, and it will face second-place Beitar Jerusalem in its next league match.

Just as the match got underway, Brami was sent off after a studs-up attempt for the ball that caught Igor Zlatanovic on the back of his foot, leaving Reineh down a man for the majority of the contest. Muhammed Knaan took advantage of the extra player as he sent a brilliant strike into the back of the goal off a Kings Kangwa assist to give Ron Kozuk’s squad a 1-0 lead. Kangwa then added a marker of his own from inside the box, thanks to an Ofir Davidzada assist in the 65th minute, to wrap up the win.

Kozuk shared his thoughts on the victory.

“The players come into every match committed. They are very mature and intense, and they deserve huge praise. The fans came up north and supported us after we disappointed recently. I’m very happy for them.”

The first half was all Beitar as Grigori Morozov beat the Haifa keeper Yoav Gerafi to give Barak Itzhaki’s squad a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute. Yarden Cohen doubled the Beitar advantage with a scorcher of a shot from the top of the box, but just minutes later, Anis Porat Ayash pulled a goal back for the Reds as he beat Miguel Silva.

As both sides searched for a marker, it was Yonatan Ferber via a superb free kick in the 80th minute that knotted the match up at 2-2 as the two teams split the points.

Itzhaki looked back at the draw.

“After a very good first half, it’s a bit disappointing to finish the match in a draw. We gave up a quick goal after we were up 2-0, and it’s too bad the match ended this way. We needed to finish this match long ago, and we have to know how to win these sorts of games. When you’re up 2-0, you have to win the game and close it out.”

Haifa coach Haim Silvas also spoke about the draw.

Also, Maccabi Haifa slipped by Ironi Tiberias 3-2 in an entertaining clash that saw Kenji Gorre decide it with his game-winner in the 82nd minute to hand the Greens the three points.

Wahib Habiballa opened the scoring with a header off a corner kick to give Tiberias the shock 1-0 lead in the fifth minute, but Guy Melamed found the equalizer inside of the box 20 minutes later.

Kenny Saeif then scored to send Barak Bachar’s team into the break holding a 2-1 lead, while Daniel Joulani pounded the ball home in the second half to draw Eliran Hodeida’s team even at 2-2 in the 63rd minute. But Kenji Gorre’s long-range shot late in the game beat Tiberias ’keeper Ido Sharon to give Haifa the 3-2 victory.

Bachar reflected on the win.

“We managed to complicate things for ourselves, you could say. At 2-1, we could have extended the lead, but we conceded and the pressure mounted. I’m happy we managed to keep possession, and it’s important to win after the heavy defeat we suffered in the previous round. It’s always important to bounce back and win at home.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv blanked Maccabi Netanya 2-0 as both goals were scored in the second half to hand the Reds the win at Bloomfield Stadium.

Following a goalless first half, Roy Korine put home a rebound off an Xander Silva shot that had been saved by Omer Niron, but the ball went right to the ongoing striker to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Amit Lemkin added the insurance marker off an Andrian Kraev throw-in to hand Hapoel the victory.

Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Elyaniv Barda summed up the win.

“It was really great to see the support of the fans and the trust in the process we’re going through at a packed stadium. We knew that Netanya are outstanding in the attacking third, especially in transitions. We saw what happened in Haifa, so we stayed a bit more cautious. In the second half, as it went on, we managed to push them back. We took risks and every substitution came in and had an immediate impact.”

Hapoel Petah Tikva got by Ashdod SC 2-0 as Roie Hadad and Golan Beni scored second-half goals to help Omer Peretz’s team take the points and get back onto the winning track.

Petah Tikva coach Omer Peretz shared his thoughts.

“We had a good first half, but in the second half, a lot of turnovers allowed Ashdod to get back into the game. Although I received a late birthday gift, it was important to stop the losing streak and, most importantly, the players promised me a win and delivered.”