Beitar Jerusalem slipped by Maccabi Bnei Reineh 1-0 as Timoti Muzie’s first half stunner helped the yellow-and-black to the 3-points and the victory at Teddy Stadium. With the win, coupled with Hapoel Beer Sheva’s goalless draw with Maccabi Haifa, Beitar find themselves atop the table level on 42 points with the southern reds who hold the goal differential advantage 27 to 22.

Over the course of the opening thirty minutes both sides had chances but Muzie’s goal which was followed up by a red card to Owusu Kwabena early on in the second half that reduced the visitors to 10-men. Despite the extra man, Barak Itzhaki’s squad had a tough time adding an insurance goal while at the other end Ze Turbo went in all alone on keeper Yehonatan Ozer with a chance to tie the match up but his shot went just wide left of the goal as Beitar closed out the win.

Beitar Head Coach Barak Itzhaki looked back at the victory, “The first half hour wasn’t the way we wanted to open up the game but we then got into our rhythm. But we also weren’t able to score although we had chances. This game should have been decided earlier and it shouldn’t have come down to the ball just missing our goal. I’m very happy that we are winning games and that we are seeing the fans being able to celebrate and we have to be content by taking 3-points in each of these games.”

Bnei Reineh Head Coach Adham Hadiya reflected on his team’s performance, “The last chance was one on one and he had all the time in the world to think about where he was going to put the ball and we ended up walking out of here empty handed yet again. We saw our team battle and really fight for the points all the way until the final whistle. We have something to offer and we have important games coming up while we may bring in some players as well.”

The goal scorer and Man of the Match Timoti Muzie spoke about the win, “This wasn’t the best game that we’ve played and I’m happy that I scored but what’s most important is that we took the 3-points. Reineh’s a very good team and we had a tough time against them. But we all want to win and do the best for the team and I’m very happy that we have been successful up until now. We are focusing on ourselves and not what else is going on even with us having the same amount of points as Hapoel Beer Sheva.”

Ilay Elmkies spoke about the loss, “We believe in ourselves and we gave a lot to offer. We are really a group of guys that are playing together and we can see some good things ahead of us. Turbo was very disappointed and he was hanging his head after the game, but we wanted to really raise his spirits and we can see what we are able to do. We believe wholeheartedly that we will remain in the league.”

Beitar Jerusalem opened the match searching for an early marker but Omer Atzily’s strike was called offside while the yellow-and-black weren’t sharp enough in the box to find the back of Lior Gliklich’s goal. At the other end Bnei Reineh took control of the ball but couldn’t find a clean attempt on Yehonatan Ozer’s goal as Beitar thwarted the visitor’s early chances.

Yarin Levy sent a scorcher towards the goal but the ball caromed off a defender and out for a corner kick which went to Yarden Shua in the middle of the box but his volley was headed to safety by Aleksa Pejic. Levy had another brilliant chance but Gliklich parried the ball away while at the other end Ozer was up to the task to make the save and keep the match goalless in the 30th minute.

However, Beitar made their way down the pitch as Dor Micha fed Timoti Muzie on the left wing and sent a right footed screamer past the helpless Reineh keeper for a 1-0 lead. Muhamed Shaker’s attempt was easily caught by Ozer, Shua tried to back heel the ball to Adi Yona at the other end but Gliklich made the save as the hosts went into the break holding a 1-0 advantage.

The second half started with a flurry of activity on both sides of the pitch with chances by the two teams as Shaker and Junior Pius just came up short in the box off of a free kick while Yarden Cohen went in all alone of Gliklich but the keeper made the stop. But just minutes later Owusu Kwabena was issued a red card for a reckless tackle as his foot went into Luka Gadrani’s head reducing Reineh to ten-men in the 55th minute.

Second half substitute Ziv Ben Shimol looked to have double the Beitar advantage but Shua was ruled to be offside earlier in the play’s buildup by the VAR. Shua and Muzie played give and go but the captain’s chance was saved by the alert Gliklich while Shua’s next attempt went off the left post as the yellow-and-black looked for the insurance marker.

Reineh started to push forward as Saar Fadida skied his chance over the bar while Ze Turbo went in all alone on Ozer but put his shot just left of the goal while at the other end both Muzie and Dor Hugi put their opportunities over the goal as the match came to an end with Beitar taking the win.