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On a day filled with national emotion following the release of three hostages, Hapoel Beersheba emerged victorious with a 2-0 win over Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday night, maintaining their position at the top of the Israel Premier League.
The joyous news of the hostages’ safe return dominated the evening, even as critical football matches unfolded across the country.
“It’s a very, very emotional day; we’re all happy for the three hostages who came back home and hope everyone returns safely. That’s above all else,” Beersheba’s coach Ron Kozuk shared after the match. Despite the emotional cloud hanging over the team, Kozuk praised his players for staying focused on the task at hand.
“Heading into the game was not easy as all the players and staff were on their phones, wanting to stay updated on the hostages’ situation. But as soon as we got to the stadium, we disconnected. We knew we had an important and difficult game ahead of us.”
On the pitch, Beersheba showed their strength, with Kings Kangwa scoring the first goal off a Dan Biton cross in the 30th minute. Eliel Peretz sealed the win in the second half with a well-taken goal, ensuring the team maintained their lead at the top of the table.
Hapoel Jerusalem coach Ziv Arie reflected on the match and the emotional significance of the day. “This was a tough loss, but much bigger things happened in this country with the release of some of the hostages. I’m happy for them, and I hope this phase ends peacefully,” Arie said. “But with all the joy, there will still be some difficult moments coming up.”
Elsewhere, Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a 4-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya, with Dor Turgeman scoring twice in the first half. His first goal came from a 20th-minute penalty after being fouled in the box, and he completed his brace in the 36th minute.
Netanya managed to pull one back through Daniel Dapaah, but Maccabi’s Eran Zahavi finished off the game in the 83rd minute.
Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach Zarko Lazetic acknowledged the team’s dominant performance, though he expressed dissatisfaction with their second-half performance, especially after conceding a goal. “I’m angry that we conceded,” Lazetic admitted.
In other matches, Maccabi Haifa played to a 1-1 draw with Bnei Sakhnin. Omer Dahan put Haifa ahead in the 33rd minute, but Abdalla Halaihal equalized for Sakhnin, ensuring both teams shared the points.
Haifa’s coach Barak Bachar lamented their failure to maintain their lead and conceded a “silly goal,” blaming the team’s inconsistency.
Beitar Jerusalem won 3-0 against 10-man Ironi Kiryat Shmona after Sekou Bangoura was shown a red card in the 15th minute.
Beitar controlled the match from the outset, with Omer Atzily heading in the opener, followed by a Yarden Shua penalty and an Adi Yona goal to seal the win. Beitar’s coach Barak Itzhaki praised his team’s solid performance, despite the numerical advantage.
Finally, Maccabi Petah Tikva defeated Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-1, with Vitalie Damascan scoring both goals.
Reineh had taken the lead in the 27th minute, but Sambinha’s red card for a foul turned the game in Petah Tikva’s favor. Coach Tamir Luzon celebrated the victory, particularly praising Damascan’s work rate and contribution to the team’s success.