There’s nothing better than going on a sports road trip in Israel especially when one is heading to a “Match of the Season”. No matter what sport, soccer or basketball a big game is a big game and that was no doubt the case with Hapoel Beer Sheva hosting Beitar Jerusalem.

A top of the table clash, in the championship playoffs no less where the league title will go to one of the teams when the campaign comes to an enticing end. First place against second place, the southern reds versus the yellow-and-black at Turner Stadium in the desert capital where the winner will be atop the table to set up the stretch run.

While the game ended up in a 2-2 draw, the match provided so many ups and downs along with excitement galore. But the story of this contest began way before Igor Zlatanovic scored a brace and Omer Atzily along with Timoti Muzie found the equalizers late in the game to split the points.

Both teams held pre-match press conferences on Thursday morning where their respective coaches, Beer Sheva’s Ron Kozuk and Beitar’s Barak Itzhaki gave nothing away as to their plans for such a matchup, although it seemed that neither side would want to risk a loss, especially one by the visitors which would put them 5-points from their rivals.

Hapoel Beer Sheva took control of the pace of play from the get go, as an active Muhammad Abu Romi’s attempt from the top right of the box just whistled past the far left post and out while a trio of corner kicks didn’t find the target early on. Both teams began to use their physical strength to knock one another off the ball and ensure that there were no fast breaks down either side of the pitch.

Regardless of what was said on Thursday, more than 48 hours prior to kickoff, the tension and pressure was in the air as the Beitar faithful came in the hundreds with flares, fireworks and song to the club’s training facility in Bayit Vegan, right next to Shaare Tzedek hospital on Friday for the final practice session before the match. The supporters arrived in large numbers because there would be no fans allowed at the game itself due to a penalty imposed by the Israel Football Association, or at least that was the plan.

Jerusalem tried creating some chances as they got closer to the Beer Sheva goal but time and time again they got a bit too cautious and made the wrong pass and kept missing their intended targets. Beer Sheva again poured on the pressure and some how Beitar kept the ball out of the goal as one attempt after the next was cleared off of the line. First by Brayan Carabali on Amir Ganach’s chance and then Lucas Ventura’s attempt either by keeper Miguel Silva as central defender Luka Gadrani then tracked down the ball as the hosts got closer and closer to breaking the deadlock.

As Shabbat approached it was time to head to the local Beer Sheva hotel and check-in with the thought that maybe, just maybe there would be some sort of Beitar presence before kickoff on Saturday night. There was a synagogue inside of the hotel, which is something most large chains across the country have and as everyone settled into their seats with the melodies associated with the Friday night service in walked a pair of Shabbat brides so to speak in Beitar midfielders Ziv Ben Shimol and Yarin Levy.

The southern reds kept applying suffocating pressure, Abu Romi gave Igor Zlatanovic a perfect through ball as the striker turned in the box and easily slotted home the opening goal of the game to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute. Zlatanovic wasn’t done yet as he then took an Eliel Peretz pass and was left all alone in the box as the Serbian marksman scored his 12th goal of the season at the stroke of halftime to send Beer Sheva into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage.

As Ben Shimol and Levy both walked into the synagogue the lovely melodies turned into Jerusalem soccer songs to the delight of the congregants. The clapping and singing got louder and louder as the the beat was raised to a fever pitch with everyone packed into the shul singing in unison with smiles on their faces including some Beitar fans who would make their way to the game despite the official ban.

The yellow-and-black looked to get back into the game as the second half began and they did just that as Omer Atzily scored from in close thanks to a tremendous effort and assist by Johnbosco Kalu to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 53rd minute. Carabali skied the ball over the bar minutes later, Gonzalez’s header just missed the short side of the goal while at the other end Silva had to be sharp to keep the score as is.

On Shabbat day, the Beitar fans were gearing up for the game at night with stories and plenty of talk about how their club could win and stun the hosts as only a few would be able to see their heroes live at Turner Stadium. The morning service and Kiddush was festive with even more song and cheers as word began to circulate that the entire team would be arriving at the hotel for lunch and the Mincha afternoon prayer.

Yarden Shua began to orchestrate the Beitar offense as the yellow-and-black put arguably their worst half of football all season behind them, as the captain himself pushed his team harder and harder towards the equalizer. Beer Sheva began to freshen up their lineup with wholesale substitutions, as Roie Levy went in all alone with a chance to close out the game but Silva made a marvelous save to keep Beitar’s hopes alive as time ticked off the clock.

Just before 2pm the team coach pulled up and the Jewish players went directly to the synagogue where they met up with their teammates Ben Shimol and Levy as the pair each received aliyot and were called up to the Torah ahead of the big game. Next was lunch, rest, video and off to the stadium as the fans gathered at the hotel gave them a rousing send off as their team went to do battle to write yet another incredible chapter to this fantastic season.

Levy and Javon East set up Kings Kangwa inside of the box but his shot went just wide while the follow up attempt was miraculously saved by Silva as the match entered injury time but it seemed that the visitors hopes were dashed when Boris Enow was issued his second yellow card and shown red leaving Beitar with just ten men for the balance of the match.

However, that didn’t matter on this night as Timoti Muzie smashed home a loose ball in the box to knot the game up as time ran down to end the match in a draw and keep Beitar’s title hopes alive as the championship playoffs heat up while setting up yet another “Match of the Season” next month but this time in Jerusalem with 30,000 rabid fans ready to take home the championship.