If you’re a Hapoel Tel Aviv supporter, it’s quite amazing to wake up and see your team in first place. Sure, it’s only for a moment right now as Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Beer Sheva have yet to play, but still nonetheless, the Reds are at the top of the standings.

It’s understandable that there would be excitement amongst the fans to see their team in sole possession of first place after their 5th match of the campaign thanks to Hapoel Tel Aviv’s 1-0 win over Hapoel Haifa as a late goal by Roy Korine, the one-time up and coming star would hand Eliyaniv Barda’s side the 3-points. But Barda was desperately trying to temper expectations, especially so early on in the season and that is most definitely legitimate as well.

Hapoel Tel Aviv must have had at least a half dozen first half corner kicks with one after another heading into the box and missing the mark as the one way play from Barda’s squad couldn’t find a way to break through. One ball was headed to the left of the Hapoel Haifa goal, the next over the bar, another totally missed the intended target and so it went on and on as the crowd’s crescendo increased with each attempt.

The second half began the same way with more missed opportunities from in close and long range that came oh so close but skipped by the post time and time again. Starlet Mor Buskila came on to give a crack at the goal as he fired banks as well, while the few chances that the Carmel Reds had were snuffed out by smart defensive plays by Hapoel Tel Aviv.

But they came closer and closer as Daniel Dappa’s half volley and bicycle kick just came up short, Andrian Kraev’s scorcher went over the goal as one chance after the next couldn’t hit the target. Falcao, the Brazilian midfielder kept threading passes up the pitch but his handiwork also bore no fruits of labor.

And then out of nowhere Haifa was awarded a penalty when Hapoel captain Mayembo tripped up Ofer Bitton in the box which was about to turn the game on its head with only a quarter hour of action to go. But that’s when heroes become heroes as Reds keeper Assaf Tzur made the beautiful save, palming the ball while diving to his left to keep the game deadlocked at 0-0.

הוא האמין שזה יקרה 🤲🏼 pic.twitter.com/9w8ftDqVgb

— Hapoel Tel Aviv FC (@HapoelTelAvivFC) September 27, 2025

Exactly where Barda and Hapoel wanted it.

Both sides made wholesale substitutions as players came in and others went off, but one of those footballers that entered the fray was Roy Korine with roughly ten minutes to go.

Korine, had bounced around between the top flight and the second division and made his Ligat Ha’al debut with Maccabi Netanya against his current club way, way back in 2019 as a 16-year old. But now at 23 and with a 4-year contract in his back pocket with Hapoel Tel Aviv which was signed after he helped the Reds earn promotion last season on loan and the club liked what they saw.

But it did take some time for Korine to get onto the pitch as he suffered a torn hamstring during Toto Cup action in August against the team who just sold him, Maccabi Netanya.

As he stepped onto the Bloomfield pitch for his first minutes of the season, it was easy to see the fire in his eyes. A man possessed who was looking to make good on that contract and show that he was worth not only the commitment but also prove that he can deliver the goods.

And deliver the goods he did.

Korine took a Kraev ball and pushed forward before unleashing a beauty of a left footed strike that went screaming into the Haifa goal past a helpless Niv Antman to give the hosts and their fans what they wanted. A chance to celebrate.

מה-FC26, לעצירה קצרה אצל קרייב – ולבלומפילד 🎮🕺🏼 pic.twitter.com/CvGhwujIrH

— Hapoel Tel Aviv FC (@HapoelTelAvivFC) September 27, 2025

But not only celebrate.

Korine yanked the comer flag out of its place and raised it high about his head as he was surrounded by his teammates while the fans were in absolute ecstasy. That’s the beauty of football, the passion, the drive and the desire all wrapped up into a nice tidy package.

Sure, Hapoel is in first place and their fans should be excited about that fact, actually, they should be very, very excited as they visit Hapoel Beer Sheva next week and then have a home Derby date back at Bloomfield.

It’s quite amazing to think that Hapoel was in the second division last season and is just back up in the top league now. But not only back in the Ligat Ha’Al, but back with proper backing, proper support and a proper plan in place by the Safra family in order to ensure that the club can reach the highest of heights.

It’s clear, crystal clear that they want to bring the Reds back to its glory days when playing in Europe was not only a regular occurrence, but one where Hapoel was successful and at the tip of the tongues of football aficionados everywhere.

As Korine waved that flag and waved it high, it signified that Hapoel was back and back with a vengeance.