Beitar Jerusalem stunned Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in what was an exhilarating matchup at Sammy Ofer Stadium. After what was for the most part a quiet first half, the fireworks began just ahead of the break when deep into first half stoppage time, Yarden Shua’s cross intended for Mayron George was handled in the box by Ilay Feingold giving the visitors a penalty. Shua’s spot kick was initially saved by Sharif Kaiuf but the Beitar star pounded home the rebound for a 1-0 lead.

As the two sides headed towards the lockerrooms, Haiaf’s Ali Muhammed gestured towards the referee who gave him a yellow card and when he didn’t stop going after the official he was shown red leaving the Greens with only 10 men for the second half. Beitar tried to take advantage of the extra man, but their keeper Miguel Silva tripped up Dia Saba just outside of the box and he was handed a red card leaving Barak Itzhaki’s squad with ten men as well.

Haifa drew even via Kenny Saief in the 67th minute but Ayi Kangani gave the yellow-and-black back the lead just minutes later and Patrick Twumasi scored the insurance marker in the 88th minute to wrap up the victory.

“I’m very happy as it’s always fun to be on the winning side,” Itzhaki said. “This was a character victory and we showed that there is a very good team here in Beitar. We started off great, there were a few minutes we weren’t there and we managed to win despite the losing a player. It’s never boring here and there is a lot of pressure but I want to give credit to the players, because coming into Sammy Ofer, to a game like this, where suddenly a player is sent off and the momentum switches sides, winning really shows what type of character we have here.”

“I think when the game was 1-1 we had excellent momentum and could have won the game,” Haifa Head Coach Bark Bachar said. “But we went too far with it, we made a few too many risky plays and we were punished for that. We needed to control the pace of play and we also didn’t start the game well. It took us time to get into the game. Even when we were behind, we had some good minutes. If we had won, we would have been flying high, it didn’t happen and it’s a shame.”

Bnei Reineh and Hapoel Jerusalem played to a goalless draw at Green Stadium in the Galilee as the two squads split the points.

Reineh Head Coach Sharon Mimer reflected on the draw, “The games between us and Hapoel Jerusalem are always tough. They prepare for every match and make it difficult for every team, very similar to us and when the two teams meet both sides cancel each other out and it’s hard to create chances.”

Jerusalem bench boss Ziv Arie said, “It wasn’t a big game from us, it was tough and everyone wants points now and we are all afraid to make a mistake, especially a team that hasn’t won in a few games. We both had some chances and a draw reflects that.”