Beitar Jerusalem slipped by Hapoel Haifa 1-0 as Jakob Jeno scored an incredible scissors kick goal off a set piece in the 95th minute to give the hosts the 3-points and the dramatic win.

“There was an amazing atmosphere at the stadium,” Beitar bench boss Barak Itzhaki began. “We actually scored in the half where we didn’t play out best and there were big differences in our play between the first and the second halves. We need to maintain intensity the entire game and it didn’t happen. But it’s fun to win a game with a goal like that right at the end, it’s sweet.”

“That’s how football is,” a disappointed Hapoel Haifa head coach Roni Levy said. “Sometimes you’re on this side and sometimes on the other. We came into the game very poorly with a lot of unnecessary turnovers, but we managed to find opportunities in passing attacks. However, to lose this was is cruel and painful.”

Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Jerusalem played to a goalless draw in the capital city as each team took home a point for their efforts.

“We knew the importance of this game,” Greens bench boss Barak Bachar said. “Wecame into this game which had a great atmosphere and we couldn’t raise the level of our play. These are games that need to be won 1-0 as we had some 100% goal situations. We played against a good and very tactical team, even though they didn’t get many chances. Hapoel Jerusalem makes it difficult, moves the ball and knows how to press when necessary.”

“I had promised that we would win our next big game and we didn’t keep our word,” Jerusalem head coach Ziv Arie said. “We really wanted to be brave out there but the loss against Netanya disrupted our confidence. On a normal day we could have won here and we could have played better. We are a really good team and we were there in this game but we weren’t good enough.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva blanked Ironi Tiberias 2-0 as the southern reds snatched the point up by the Kinneret. Just ahead of the halftime break, Alon Turgeman scored off a beautiful Eliel Peretz through ball to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute while Antonio Sefer double date advantage in the 94th minute to close out the victory.

“We are leaving for the break with a very good feeling,” Beer Sheva Head Coach Ron Kozuk said. “I was confident in my team from the get go. We wanted to play according to our principles, control the game, initiate and make it difficult for them in transitions. I think the guys did very well.”

“In the first half we were still in the game and we had some opportunities,” Tiberias head coach Eliran Hodeda began. “But one has to understand, the differences in quality between us and Hapoel Beer Sheva are very big and as soon as we have three chances and we fail to score, then it is even more difficult for us to chase after them. In the second half we were not in the game, Beer Sheva took control and deserved the victory.”

Maccabi Bnei Reineh defeated Ashdod 2-1 as Ezekiel Henty scored a brace to give the visitors the 3 points at the Port City. Henty opened the scoring in the 4th minute thanks to a Guy Hadida assist, but less than 10 minutes later Roie Levy slotted home a penalty to draw the hosts even at 1-1. However, Henty gave Bnei Reineh the lead for good in the 20th minute for his second goal of the match which handed them the points and the win.

“The difference in this game was that we took advantage of the situations that we had,” Reineh Head Coach Sharon Mimer said. “It was very important to go into the half with a lead which we did as we made some corrections and changes on the pitch. All in all I am really proud of the players. It is important to get back onto the winning track after the poor loss to Sakhnin last week. This victory goes to Henty who is a hungry striker who showed his qualities.”

“We played very badly, that’s the truth,” Ashdod bench boss Eli Levy admitted. “We were not able to create continuity after our fine showing last game. We made all the changes we could make, we didn’t succeed and now we head into the break with food for thought and plenty of work to do.”.

Kiryat Shemona and Hapoel Hadera drew 1-1 as the two sides split the points for their efforts. Dan Einbinder scored a first half penalty to give Hadera the lead and leave the northerners down a man but Roie Zikri’s strike in the second half made sure to give the hosts at least a point as the match ended in a draw.

“We took a point and the team came into this game with good energy,” Kiryat Shemona coach Shay Barda began. “It’s not easy to play with 10 players from the 34th minute and I take my hat off to them. There is a lot of commitment in this team. It’s a super important point and even with 10 men we pressed them in the second half.”

“The bottom line is that I’m finishing my first week with the club after 4 training sessions,” Hadera’s new head coach Assaf Nimi said. “We came into this game against a team that beat Maccabi Tel Aviv with good momentum. We knew we had a responsibility to stop the bleeding and the guys worked very hard. They started implementing my philosophy and we wanted to see a change in attitude and that’s what we saw in this game.”