Hapoel Beer Sheva slipped by Beitar Jerusalem 2-1 as the southern reds opened up a 4-point lead atop the table with the hard earned victory. Kings Kangwa was active early on for the hosts but the yellow-and-black second choice keeper Yehonatan Ozer came up big time and time again to keep the match goalless.

However, Igor Zlatanovic headed home an Eliel Peretz ball to give Ron Kozuk’s side a 1-0 lead. Grigori Morozov found the equalizer off a Boris Enow corner in the second half for Barak Itzhaki’s team in the 57th minute but Or Blorian nodded the ball into the goal from a Kangwa corner to grab a 2-1 lead lead than ten minutes later as the southern reds held on to take the win.

Beer Sheva Head Coach Ron Kozuk spoke about the win, “We had some ups and downs and what we need is to be able to score another goal after we score the first. We need to keep pushing as we did from the start of the second half until Beitar scored. I would rather press but I also want to make sure we play our game and not theirs. Beitar is battling for the title and I knew that with a win we would open up a 4-point lead and it was exhilarating for all of us especially with the fans really pushing us”

Beitar bench boss Barak Itzhaki looked back on the defeat, “We tried to hold onto the ball and played a very direct game which was the game plan and we were able to do it over the course of the first half. I’m very happy as to how we played especially here at Turner but it’s also disappointing with the result. We are only four points off the top of the table and if someone would have told me that would be the case at the start of the season I would have grabbed it with both hands.”

The game winning goal scorer Or Blorian reflected on the win, “I’m happy right now where I am and I will do my utmost every minute that I am with the club. We are working hard on every type of play including set pieces where we conceded on a corner kick but also scored a pair of markers on set pieces as well.”

Yehonatan Ozer spoke about the match that was, “I don’t think we were missing much, maybe a bit of luck and we did what the staff wanted us to do. We played well but came up short. This was a very good game for me personally after getting the chance to play, we had so many great chances and I’m proud of the guys for the effort that they gave me. They gave me steadiness and they helped give me confidence in order for me to play my game.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva began the game applying all kinds of pressure as Kings Kangwa’s chance went wide of the target while Beitar Jerusalem chose their points of attack carefully as Yarden Shua tried to thread the needle to Adi Yona. An active Kangwa broke free down the pitch and crossed the ball to Dan Bitton but Yehonatan Ozer made a marvellous save while minutes later the yellow-and-black shot stopper came up huge again when he saved Igor Zlatanovic’s header to keep the score goalless in the 23rd minute.

Timoti Muzie’s shot just grazed off Beer Sheva defender and went out to safety while Muhammad Knaan’s chance was gobbled up by Ozer as both sides looked to break the ice, however, it would be the hosts who would find the back of the goal first.

Zlatanovic was once again at the center of attention when he elegantly nodded home an Eliel Peretz ball to hand the southern reds a 1-0 lead in the 38th minute. Beer Sheva almost doubled the advantage via Zlatanovic but Luka Gadrani cleared the ball off the line to safety while at the other end Beitar pushed for the equalizer and came close with Shua’s header just clearing the bar as the sides went into the break with Ron Kozuk’s team ahead 1-0.

Beitar came out of the halftime break looking for a tying goal and they found it ten minutes into the second half as Boros Enow delivered a perfect corner to Grigori Morozov who headed the ball home with authority to draw the yellow-and-black even at 1-1 in the 57th minute. Beer Sheva turned the heat up as Ozer had to be sharp in goal again making an incredible save off of Eliel Peretz but he couldn’t stop Or Blorian who nodded the ball into the net off a Kangwa corner to help the hosts retake the lead.

Beitar controlled the pace of play but couldn’t break through the Beer Sheva defense while Dan Bitton’s brilliant chance on a counter was saved by a busy Ozer as time began to wind down. Both sides made wholesale substitutions, Dor Hugi headed Ziv Ben Shimol’s free kick just wide left of the goal in added time as Barak Itzhaki’s squad pressed for the equalizer to no avail as the Beer Sheva closed out the win.

Maccabi Tel Aviv blanked Maccabi Bnei Reineh 4-0 as four different goal scorers found the back of the net as the yellow-and-blue picked up the 3-points to close the gap to second place Beitar Jerusalem to just five points. Sayed Abu Farhi opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give Ronny Deila’s team a 1-0 lead by the break while Amir Sahiti doubled the advantage early on in the second half and Roy Revivo made it 3-0 by the 54th minute. Yonas Malede put the finishing touches on the victory as he found the back of the goal in the 85th minute.

Maccabi Head Coach Ronny Delia spoke about the win, “There was a fantastic atmosphere with the fans and it was amazing, they are the 12th player. I think we were very good in the first half, then we slowed the pace a bit, but we were still attacking well. Reineh got into scoring positions and we’ll deal with that, but we scored four goals and overall I’m satisfied. There’s room for improvement and we’ll improve, but I’m happy.”

Adham Hadiya looked back at the loss, “I think that during our good spells over the course of the game when we were getting into chances, they ended up scored on the counterattack and from that point on things didn’t go our way and we lost our minds. There were positive things; we fought, but there are gaps in squad quality and in budgets. Now is our time, in the upcoming matches, that’s where we need to pick up points before the playoffs, close the gap and put up a fight in the playoffs.“