Hapoel Beer Sheva blanked Ashdod 2-0 to get back onto the winning track and continue to maintain first place in the league standings. Alon Turgeman nodded home the opening goal thanks to a cross by Amir Ganach in the 5th minute to take an early 1-0 lead. The southern Reds tried to add to their advantage but it took them until deep into second half stoppage time and after two Ashdod players were sent off as Shalev Harush and Shahar Rosen were both shown red cards in the 88th and 90th minutes respectively. Iuri Medeiros, who had had just joined Ron Kozuk’s team during the winter transfer window sent a left footed strike into the Ashdod goal in the 98th minute to close out the game and hand the visitors the 3-points.

“We were very soft, especially in midfield and that gave them chances,” Kozuk began following the game. “That made me change my system a bit from a 4-3-3 to 3-5-2 because I felt that we were losing the middle every time and players were running into the free space. It’s definitely the same Beer Sheva team but the games have simply become more difficult. Teams are preparing better for us and have more to play for in preparation for the playoffs and are more committed. We need to raise the level of our game.”

Ashdod Head Coach Klemi Saban reflected on the match, “Were we their equal? Yes, we created enough chances to score, especially in the second half, but we didn’t know how to take advantage of them. It’s part of football – when you don’t score you concede. The points we could have taken here would have helped us later on, but now we have to look ahead to stay in the league. We played with our heart. I trust the players and know that the situation will be much better going forward.”

Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Hadera played to a goalless draw to split the points at Teddy Stadium.

“We should have done things much quicker on the pitch in order to create space,” Beitar bench boss Barak Itzhaki began. “We didn’t have space in the second half. In the first half we had so many chances and we weren’t able to score. We ended up with a disappointing draw, which is a shame, it’s a game we should have won.”

Hadera head coach Nimrod Kostika added, “We worked all week after the game with Maccabi Haifa, which we came away very disappointed in. We went into perhaps the toughest away game in the league, we came prepared and we exploited their weaknesses. We are on the rise, and besides Maccabi Tel Aviv, we have games against teams at our level so it’s time for us to take advantage of that. We’ll take the point here and move forward.”

Maccabi Netanya slipped by Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 as a pair of second half goals spurred a late comeback win top snatch the points. Matan Hozez opened the scoring with a penalty in the 21st minute to give the capital city reds a 1-0 lead. However, Oz Bilu took advantage of an errant pass by Nadav Zamir in the 70th minute to draw even while Itay Ben Shabbat headed home a free kick 8 minutes later to take the lead for good and give the hosts the 3-points.

“We fell behind in the 20th minute when we were actually playing well,” Netanya Head Coach Yossi Abuksis began. “We conceded the goal and started chasing after them. Fortunately, Jerusalem didn’t score a second goal but we were stressed when we did give up that goal and I told the players to relax at half-time, that we were playing under pressure. I think we were much better in the second half and mounted a great comeback.”

“This game was in our hands,” a disappointed Ziv Arie lamented after the game. “Netanya didn’t create many chances and when they did score is was because we gave them a gift. It’s a shame, but it is what it is. It’s part of football, I’m responsible for everything, for better or for worse. It’s part of the game and I have no explanation why it’s so hard for us to produce results in away games, I have no explanation, these are facts and you can’t argue with them.”

Bnei Sakhnin downed Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 to take the 3 points and the win. Sambinha’s 20th minute own goal gave Sakhnin a 1-0 lead while Alexandre Ramalingom doubled the advantage from the penalty spot in the second half to close out the victory for Slobodan Drapic’s squad.

“I am very pleased as this was a critical game for us,” Drapic said. “We didn’t know where we were heading after consecutive losses and we needed points. I hope that we can put a few games like this as this was a big step towards staying in the league.”

“We came here to win,” Reineh coach Sharon Mimer began. “The field here is disgusting, you can’t play football here and both teams didn’t play well. We lost 2-0 without anyone scoring a goal – an own goal and a penalty. It’s really annoying as we are having a good season and we are fighting for a spot in the championship playoffs.”

Maccabi Petach Tikva dropped Ironi Tiberias 2-1 to take the points. Wilson Harris put Petach Tikva in front with a 34th minute marker while Amir Altoury gave the visitors a 2-0 lead in the 70th minute. Ben Vehaba cut the lead a few minutes later but that’s as close as the hosts would get.

“I’m a man of faith and that’s what I have told everyone,” Petach Tikva Head Coach Tamir Luzon said. “We were quieter with the ball, we knew how to move it better than we have lately. We were more on it defensively because against Ashdod we were very scattered all over the field. We knew what Tiberias’ strengths were and we were able to get the 3-points.”

“We were too soft in the first half and we lost all of our battles,” Tiberias bench boss Eliran Hodeida said. “In the second half we got into the game and were dominant, we scored a goal but we weren’t smart enough and conceded a soft goal again.”