Hapoel Beer Sheva defeated Beitar Jerusalem 1-0 thanks to a 36th minute goal headed home by Helder Lopes off a Roie Gordana free kick for the lone marker of the match. 

“This was a big win with a ton of character,” Beer Sheva coach Elyaniv Barda explained. “I am satisfied with the fight and focus that the guys put in and especially the character above all. Of course I wanted more and we had trouble with their pressure which we couldn’t find solutions for. But a game like this you need to know how to win 1-0 which we did.”

“I have to give credit to the team they really put in a good game and effort,” Beitar coach Barak Itzhaki said. “I don’t like moral victories but I can take away a lot of hope. If we continue to play this way the results will come. We knew that Beer Sheva was a dangerous team and they have scored many goals. We lost a bit of ficus and if we hadn’t the result could have been different.”

Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Petach Tikva played to a draw as the sides split the points.

“This is a very bad situation,” Tel Aviv coach Yossi Abuksis said. “We are battling and we want to score and win but we are unable too. We are playing without any confidence and we need to collect points in order to stay in the league. We wanted to win but we could have easily lost.”

“I told the guys that I am proud of them,” Petach Tikva coach Benny Lam said. “The fans respected them that they ran hard, played with desire and worked so I am happy with them as well. Sure we needed an extra pass to score a goal but all in all I have no complaints about their effort.”