{"id":14816,"date":"2019-07-26T14:21:37","date_gmt":"2019-07-26T14:21:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sportsrabbi.agpwebdesign.com\/?p=14816"},"modified":"2019-07-26T14:21:37","modified_gmt":"2019-07-26T14:21:37","slug":"beer-sheva-wins-haifa-falls-israel-baseball-takes-lead-gailen-interview-lacrosse-women-capture-silver-blue-white-u18s-victorious-swimmers-head-to-olympics-mike-schmitz-more-israel-sport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsrabbi.com\/en\/beer-sheva-wins-haifa-falls-israel-baseball-takes-lead-gailen-interview-lacrosse-women-capture-silver-blue-white-u18s-victorious-swimmers-head-to-olympics-mike-schmitz-more-israel-sport\/","title":{"rendered":"Beer Sheva wins, Haifa falls, Israel Baseball takes lead + Gailen Interview, Lacrosse women capture Silver, Blue & White U18’s victorious, Swimmers head to Olympics, Mike Schmitz & More! Israel Sports Rabbi Rundown Friday July 26, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hapoel Beer Sheva defeated Kairat Almaty 2:0<\/strong> in the first leg of their second round Europa League qualifying tie at Turner Stadium in Israel\u2019s southern capital. Ramzi Safuri opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a first half penalty due to a hand ball in the box to give the hosts a 1:0 lead. Eden Shamir found the back of the goal on a second half header thanks to a brilliant cross by Ben Bitton to give Beer Sheva the 1st leg victory. A lengthy trip to Kazakhstan is now on tap for Head Coach Barak Bachar\u2019s squad for the return leg on Thursday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no question that this was a good result,\u201d exclaimed Bachar following the first leg win. \u201cKeeping a clean sheet against a quality opponent is terrific and we were a bit lucky that we didn\u2019t give up a goal. however, on the other side we could have scored even more. Now we have to seal the deal in Kazakhstan which won\u2019t be simple. If their disallowed goal would have counted, everything would have been different.\u201d
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Maccabi Haifa FC<\/p><\/div>
\nMaccabi Haifa fell in France to Strasbourg 3:1<\/strong> in their first leg second round Europa League matchup. After controversy led up to the start of the game by the local French authorities allowing the display of Israeli flags or not at the game, Marko Balbul\u2019s side took a 1:0 first half lead but then gave up three unanswered goals. <\/p>\n

The Greens held a 1:0 lead thanks to a 39th minute goal by Maxim Plakushchenko thanks to a Nikita Rukavysta assist however, just a few minutes later everything went south for the northern squad. Defender Ayad Habshi was shown red for pulling down Da Costa Joia in the box which led to a penalty goal by Ludovic Ajorque just before the half-time break which was followed up by a quick second goal just two minutes into the second half by Adrien Thomasson. Jonas Martin then added the final strike in the 62nd minute to head into Israel with the advantage ahead of the second leg on Thursday night at Sammy Ofer Stadium. <\/p>\n

\u201cUp until Habshi was dismissed we were playing well,\u201d a disappointed Balbul remarked. \u201cOnce we lost a player we had a tough time and they pressed us. Even with ten men I was expecting to battle and create some chances and we barely were able to do that. However, I\u2019m proud of the guys and we will get back at it at with our home crowd on Thursday.\u201d
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\nIsrael Baseball began their best of 3 game series against Lithuania for the final spot in the European Championships. In Friday\u2019s Jerusalem Post, The Sports Rabbi spoke to Blake Gailen<\/strong><\/a> who earned MVP honors earlier in July helping the Blue & White advance to the playoffs versus Lithuania.
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