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<\/p>\nBeitar Jerusalem stunned Maccabi Haifa 2-1 as Ziv Ben Shimol scored the late winner to snatch the 3-points and send the yellow-and-black faithful into delirium. The victory cut the Hapoel Beer Sheva lead atop the table to just 2-points as Barak Itzhaki\u2019s team will now ready for a State Cup date against Ironi Tiberias at Green Stadium in Nazareth Elite.<\/p>\n
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After a goalless opening first half that saw the greens in control, Omer Atzily was tripped up the box by Yinon Fainegezict and slotted home the penalty for a 1-0 Beitar advantage. However, the lead was short lived as Kenji Gorre scored just minutes later to even up the contest, but Ziv Ben Shimol slotted home the winning marker in the 95th minute to wrap the game up and send Beitar Jerusalem home happy.<\/p>\n
Barak Itzhaki reflected on the victory, \u201cThis was a very important win for us and although this wasn\u2019t one of our best games, we knew how to win the game in a packed Sammy Ofer Stadium against a team like Maccabi Haifa. Last season we had a good first round, things then fell off on the second and we didn\u2019t play well in the playoffs. Here we won a tough game and that\u2019s what we need to do this season. I\u2019m happy that we are a fun team to watch and we hope to continue to go on our way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Haifa Head Coach Barak Bachar spoke about the defeat, \u201cEveryone saw that we played well but we had to make some changes along the way and every player gave 100% in the game. We made a mistake which was unfortunate and now we have to move on. But at worst case we should have played this game to a draw.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Ziv Ben Shimol talked about the winning goal, \u201cI\u2019m very happy that I was able to help the team win and we are really working hard. I want to prove to myself that I can play at this level, I\u2019m focused on Beitar and I\u2019m happy to be here. This was my biggest goal and we are very happy to be in this position to be able to be in the race for the championship and we will keep aiming for that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenji Gorre who scored his first goal with Haifa reflected on the club and the loss, \u201cIt\u2019s frustrating not to start and ever player wants to start. It\u2019s frustrating not getting the minutes, but I\u2019m in a new country and new club and it\u2019s not easy to move to something so new. Even though things aren\u2019t going the right way right now we are building something and it\u2019s not easy to come in and succeed right away, but I see a bright future ahead. To lose in this circumstance is painful but we are cultivating a group that is relentless. I\u2019m excited for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Chances were at a premium early on for both sides although Haifa seemed to be a step ahead of Beitar on both sides of the pitch as an active Eitan Azulay\u2019s attempt was smartly taken care of by Brayan Carabali as keeper Miguel Silva looked to have been beat to keep the match goalless. Kenny Saief kept pushing as his pass to Zohar Zasno was on the spot but the latter\u2019s ball wildly missed the target, Dor Hugi\u2019s header at the other end went out while Carabali again came to the rescue when he cleared an Azulay chance.<\/p>\n
After Sean Goldberg was substituted off due to a head-on-head hit with teammate Yinon Fainegezict, the greens created one more opportunity ahead of the break in the five minutes of injury time added to the first half. Defender. Pierre Cornud sent a perfect ball into the box to Trivante Stewart but the Jamaican striker\u2019s header was expertly pawed away by Beitar keeper Miguel Silva as the sides went into the break goalless.<\/p>\n
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The second began with a number of half injuries instead of half chances by both teams as opportunities were at a premium, Kenji Gorre\u2019s attempt was saved by Silva while the Beitar shot stopper punched away a Haifa corner that was followed up by<\/p>\n
However, against the run of play, Fainegezict tripped up Atzily in the box and gave Beitar the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot as the aforementioned Atzily promptly put the ball past a helpless Heorhiy Yermakov to give the visitors a shock 1-0 lead in the 79th minute.<\/p>\n
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But the Greens came right back as a red hot and wide open Gorre in the area put the ball past Silva to draw the hosts even at 1-1 in the 85th minute. Yarden Shua who came in as a substitute, had a brilliant chance as Silva sent the captain a long ball but somehow Yermakov was able to smother the opportunity to keep the score as is.<\/p>\n
With the two sides looking satisfied to part ways with a draw deep into second half injury time, out of nowhere, Ziv Ben Shimol picked off the ball from Goni Naor, raced into the Haifa and put home the winner to send Beitar home with the 3-points.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Beitar Jerusalem stunned Maccabi Haifa 2-1 as Ziv Ben Shimol scored the late winner to snatch the 3-points and send the yellow-and-black faithful into delirium. The victory cut the Hapoel Beer Sheva lead atop the table to just 2-points as Barak Itzhaki\u2019s team will now ready for a State Cup date against Ironi Tiberias at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":165367,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[55],"class_list":["post-165338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-israel-2","tag-beitar-jerusalem","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n