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Hapoel Beersheba’s dominant performance against Beitar Jerusalem has seen them not only secure a 4-1 victory but also claim sole possession of first place in the Israel Premier League.
The victory came in front of a roaring home crowd at Turner Stadium, where the hosts showcased their attacking prowess and high-intensity football from the very start.
Quick Fire Goals Set the Tone
The game kicked off with an explosive pace, as Hapoel Beersheba wasted no time in asserting their dominance.
Just four minutes into the match, Kings Kangwa delivered a stunning 25-meter strike that left Beitar’s goalkeeper, Miguel Silva, with no chance. The early goal set the tone for the match, with Beersheba’s confidence sky-high.
The hosts doubled their lead less than five minutes later, as Dan Biton’s shot from outside the box cleanly beat Silva, making it 2-0. With the early two-goal cushion, Beersheba’s intensity remained high, as they kept pressing forward in search of more.
Beitar Struggles Under Pressure
Despite the early setbacks, Beitar Jerusalem tried to stay composed, but they struggled to find their rhythm. Their first real opportunity to get back into the game came in the 13th minute when Helder Lopes was awarded a penalty.
However, Beersheba’s goalkeeper, Niv Eliasi, produced a crucial save, denying Lopes from the spot. As the ball rebounded, Yoni Stoyanov was quick to react, hammering home the loose ball to make it 3-0, putting Beitar’s hopes of a comeback in serious jeopardy.
Beitar’s defense seemed shaken, as they were unable to cope with the high press and attacking style of the hosts. Despite a few moments of possession, they failed to generate meaningful opportunities.
Beersheba’s Dominance Continues
In the second half, Beersheba remained relentless. Just three minutes after the restart, Biton scored his second of the night in the 48th minute, further cementing his place as one of the standout players of the game.
A deft finish after a quick counter-attack saw the ball fly past Silva once again, making it 4-0 to Beersheba. For Beitar, it was a disappointing performance, especially after conceding four goals in the first 50 minutes.
However, the visitors did manage to score a consolation goal in the 79th minute. Mayron George found the back of the net, breaking up Eliasi’s clean sheet and giving Beitar a semblance of hope. But by then, the damage had already been done.
Beersheba’s Tactical Masterclass
After the match, Hapoel Beersheba’s head coach, Ron Kozuk, was full of praise for his team’s performance. “This was a great game for us,” Kozuk said.
“If someone had told me we’d be leading 3-0 after just 12 minutes, I would’ve thought they were crazy. Our style is to press high with intensity, and we used three central defenders to balance the back line. I’m happy it worked. I’m very satisfied with how things turned out.”
Kozuk’s tactical approach, utilizing a three-man central defense and encouraging high pressing, paid off handsomely.
Beersheba’s ability to disrupt Beitar’s attacks while maintaining fluid offensive play left little room for their opponents to recover.
Beitar’s Struggles and Reflection
On the other side, Beitar Jerusalem’s head coach, Barak Itzhaki, acknowledged his team’s struggles. “A lot of things didn’t work, especially at the start of the game,” Itzhaki admitted.
“When you start to get dizzy in Turner Stadium, it’s a problem. We tried to stick to our playing style, but it didn’t go well today. Ultimately, we’ll learn from this. I was wrong to press high with three quick players, trying to rely on transitions.”
Itzhaki’s decision to press high against a well-organized Beersheba team backfired as the early goals left Beitar scrambling for answers. Despite the occasional offensive threat, Beitar failed to recover after conceding the third goal so early in the match.
Maccabi Haifa Secures a Crucial Win
Elsewhere in the league, Maccabi Haifa returned to winning ways after a disappointing loss, with a 3-1 victory over Ashdod SC. The win was vital for Haifa’s title hopes, as they secured all three points thanks to a solid performance.
Dean David opened the scoring in the 9th minute, assisted by Dia Saba, who doubled the lead just before halftime.
Iyad Khalaili added a third for Haifa in the 59th minute, and although Noam Muche pulled one back for Ashdod in the 65th, it wasn’t enough for a comeback.
Haifa’s coach, Barak Bachar, expressed satisfaction with his team’s response. “Obviously, this was an important game for us after the loss,” Bachar said. “We saw a team overcome adversity. We received criticism – rightly so – but this win was sweet.”
Draw Between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa played to a 1-1 draw in an intense matchup at Sammy Ofer Stadium. Weslley Pattai scored the opener for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 24th minute with a well-executed pass from Sagiv Yehezkel.
However, Hapoel Haifa responded in the 60th minute with Guy Melamed converting a penalty after being fouled in the box.
Maccabi Tel Aviv’s head coach, Zarko Lazetic, acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, “There are 23 more games; it’s only December. We didn’t play well on defense and lacked consistency. We need to show more calmness and confidence.”
Hapoel Haifa’s coach, Roni Levy, was proud of his team’s resilience. “I’m proud. The team deserves compliments. We played under pressure but stuck to moving the ball, which kept us in the game.”
Late Drama in Ironi Kiryat Shmona’s Win
Ironi Kiryat Shmona edged out Maccabi Petah Tikva 1-0 in a dramatic finish. Alfredo Stephens scored the winning goal in second-half injury time, handing Kiryat Shmona all three points. The victory also saw the dismissal of Petah Tikva’s head coach, Dan Roman, after another disappointing defeat.
Maccabi Netanya’s Comeback Victory
Maccabi Netanya also completed a thrilling comeback, defeating Ironi Tiberias 3-2. After initially trailing 1-0 and 2-1, Netanya mounted a spirited comeback, with Freddy Vargas and Oz Bilu scoring to secure the win for their side.
Other Results
Elsewhere, Hapoel Hadera triumphed over Maccabi Bnei Reineh with a 2-1 victory, while Hapoel Jerusalem narrowly defeated Bnei Sakhnin 1-0, with Andrew Idoko scoring the match-winning goal.
Looking Ahead
With Beersheba’s victory, the Israel Premier League table has become even more competitive, with the top teams continuing to jockey for position as the season progresses.
Hapoel Beersheba’s strong performance, coupled with Maccabi Haifa’s bounce-back win, signals that the title race will be fiercely contested in the coming months.
For Beitar Jerusalem, the heavy defeat serves as a wake-up call as they look to regroup and improve in their upcoming fixtures.
As the league heads into the winter break, all eyes will be on these top teams to see how they continue their pursuit of the championship.
