Hapoel Beer Sheva downed Hapoel Ramat Gan 2-1 as Eliel Peretz scored the late winner to help Israel’s lone European representative to the points and the win. After a goalless first half youngster Amit Ohana scored on a superb individual effort to give the defending champions a 1-0 lead. However, Matan Hozez quickly drew the hosts even, but and Eliel Peretz free kick in second half injury time gave the visitors the lead for good as Beer Sheva took the season opening win.

“This win is important because we want to win the championship,” Beer Sheva Head Coach Ron Kozuk began. “I had no doubt that it would be a difficult game. We faced a good opponent with an excellent coach and I’m happy with the result. There were a lot of good things; we were inside the opponent’s penalty area many times. Our job is to win games and I’m proud of the players and happy for them.”

“The defeat is extremely cruel,” Ramat Gan bench boss Mesai Dego said. “We played a good game and we could have scored twice. We’re only in the second round and it was important for us to get points. We didn’t deserve to lose, but I’m also encouraged by the performance.”

Hapoel Petach Tikva slipped by Hapoel Jerusalem 1-0 as Karim Kimvuidi scored in the 14th minute for the lone marker of the match that handed the 3-points and the win to Omer Peretz’s side.

“The last month or so was a difficult period,” Petach Tikva Head Coach Peretz said following the win. “We didn’t start the season well and we needed this victory to give us energy and make the players believe in themselves. We need to embrace this victory and while the football wasn’t great, it’s not what we want to see from the team, the win makes everything worthwhile.”

“I’m coming away very disappointed,” Jerusalem bench boss Lior Zada said. “We didn’t start the game well and we conceded a goal that decided it. We didn’t respond well in the first half and the second half we pressed and created many chances. This was a game that should have ended in a draw, so this defeat is very disappointing.”

Kiryat Shemona blanked Ironi Tiberias 2-0 as Amadou Sanga scored a terrific goal off a break in the first half and Rufat Abdullazade put home a free kick the second half to give the northerners the 3-points.

Maccabi Petach Tikva downed Bnei Sakhnin 2-1 as Samuel Owusu and Liran Hazan cancelled out Ilay Hajaj’s first minute goal to help Ziv Arie’s team to the win.