Maccabi Haifa defeated Hapoel Jerusalem 4-1 in the Israel Premier League, scoring four unanswered goals after falling behind, to remain within a point of Israeli Premier League leader Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Andrew Idoko gave Jerusalem a lead midway through the first half, but Andrija Novakovich and Pedro Brazao scored to put Barak Bachar’s side ahead 2-1 at halftime. Kenji Gorre and Guy Melamed added second-half goals to complete the comeback.
'We are playing very happy football right now'
“I’m happy that we were able to come back from a one-goal deficit and pick up the victory,” Bachar said. “We have a new team, and it will take time to really get going, but we are playing very happy football right now.”
Jerusalem coach Lior Zada lamented his team’s defensive lapses, saying it conceded at critical moments after taking the lead.
Meanwhile, Beitar Jerusalem delivered an equally emphatic performance, routing Hapoel Ramat Gan 4-0.
Omer Atzily opened the scoring before Boris Enow struck just before halftime and added another shortly after the restart. Eugene Ansah completed the victory.
Beitar coach Almog Cohen praised his team’s pressing and commitment, but warned that the upcoming meeting with Maccabi Tel Aviv would present a different challenge. Beitar will return to Teddy Stadium for the first time this season after its new pitch was installed over the summer.
Hapoel Beersheba stayed in the title race with a 2-0 victory over Ironi Tiberias.
Joao Victor and Amankwah Forson scored in the second half to secure the three points.
Beersheba struggled to impose its strengths during portions of the match
Beersheba coach Ran Kozuk acknowledged that his team struggled to impose its strengths during portions of the match, allowing Tiberias to create problems on the counterattack. He said the team would learn from the performance despite the win.
Hapoel Tel Aviv also kept pace near the top, defeating Ironi Kiryat Shmona 3-1.
Douglas Owusu opened the scoring with a powerful finish from inside the box, and Emmanuel Boateng doubled the advantage early in the second half. Omri Altman then curled home a free kick, while Amadou Sanga converted a 90th-minute penalty for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv dropped its first points of the season in a goalless draw against Bnei Sakhnin at Bloomfield.
The defending champions remain top of the table, three points ahead of Hapoel Beersheba and Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Maccabi coach Kenny Miller was frustrated by his team’s inability to convert its chances, insisting that his side had done enough to win.
Hapoel Haifa snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over Maccabi Petah Tikva thanks to Sal Pahima’s stoppage-time volley. Alon Turgeman had put the hosts ahead before Guy Amos equalized in the 70th minute, setting the stage for Pahima’s late winner.
Hapoel Petah Tikva and Maccabi Netanya shared the points in a 1-1 draw marked by late controversy.
Roie David put Petah Tikva ahead, but Maor Levi converted a 90th-minute penalty to equalize. Confusion during a series of substitutions left 12 Petah Tikva players on the field when the penalty was taken, prompting complaints from the home side’s coach, Omer Peretz, about the time allowed for substitutions.
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