Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv defeated M.S. Ashdod 1-0 tonight at Bloomfield Stadium in Matchweek 17 of the Winner League. Loizou scores the winner.

Hapoel hosted M.S. Ashdod tonight at Bloomfield for the fourth encounter between the teams this season across all competitions. The objective was clear: secure a fourth victory over the port city rival and get back on the winning track.

The team came into the match following a loss in the previous round at Teddy Stadium, a defeat that snapped a positive streak of four unbeaten games.

Ten days ago, Hapoel eliminated Ashdod in the 8th round of the State Cup with a convincing 3-0 win, but tonight was a different story. In a match that did not reach a high level, the visitors played defensively for most of the game, frustrating the Hapoel players who couldn't find the back of the net during the first half.

In the 64th minute, Omri Altman received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Hapoel with ten men. Surprisingly, Hapoel looked better with a numerical disadvantage and created several missed opportunities. In the 73rd minute, the balance of power on the pitch was restored when Ashdod was also reduced to ten men after Raz Meir was sent off.

The decisive moment arrived in the closing minutes. In the 84th minute, a wonderful play by Yazan Nassar on the left flank ended with a shot parried by the opposing goalkeeper; the ball fell to Loizos Loizou. The Cypriot international made no mistake, scoring the winner from close range and registering his fourth goal of the season.

Hapoel remains perfect in home league matches this season, with an eighth victory in eight games and a home goal difference of 18:4. Following the win, Hapoel raises its tally to 28 points, solidifying its spot in fourth place and bringing its overall goal difference to 30:20 (+10).

Played for Hapoel: Assaf Tzur, Tal Archel (Amit Lemkin – 58), Fernand Mayembo {Captain}, Chico Alves, Yazan Nassar, Lucas Falcao (Daniel Dappa – 58), Andrian Kraev, Roei Elkokin (Ari Cohen – 88), Roy Korine (Liran Rotman – 71), Loizos Loizou (El Yam Kancepolsky – 88), Omri Altman (Sent off – 64).

Referee: Na'al Odeh officiated in front of 12,500 spectators at Bloomfield Stadium.

Next Match: Hapoel's next match will take place on Saturday (10/1) when they travel to Sammy Ofer Stadium to face Hapoel Haifa in Matchweek 18 of the Winner League. Kickoff is at 17:30.

Match Events

Minute 15: Roy Korine played a dangerous ball to Altman; Diakité cleared it just in time, saving a sure goal.

Minute 18: Roy Korine received the ball inside the box, made a good turn, and unleashed a sharp shot that narrowly missed the frame.

Minute 23: A good Hapoel attack ended with a cross into the box; Altman headed it, but weakly into Nimtzenky's hands.

Minute 34: A cross into the box reached Kraev who headed well, but Nimtzenky made the save.

Minute 38: Omri Altman took a free kick from about 25 meters out, but it went high over the bar.

Minute 64: Omri Altman is sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

Minute 67: A Hapoel counterattack left Dapaah in a good position; he shot from the edge of the box straight into Nimtzenky's hands.

Minute 70: A great through ball put Loizou one-on-one with Nimtzenky, but the Cypriot took a heavy touch and missed a good chance.

Minute 73: Ashdod is also left with ten men.

Minute 84: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv takes a 1-0 lead: Yazan Nassar produced a great move on the flank, beat Yesilirmak, penetrated the box, and sent a cross that was parried poorly by Nimtzenky. Loizou pounced on the rebound and scored from close range.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will host S.C Ashdod tonight at Bloomfield Stadium for Matchweek 17 of the Winner League. Ahead of the match, we have gathered all the statistics, the history between the teams, and the interesting details you need to know before kickoff.

Hapoel continues its intense schedule and will host S.C Ashdod at Bloomfield tonight, with a clear goal: to put the loss in the last round behind them and get back to accumulating important league points.

Following the stumble three days ago at Teddy Stadium, the club is determined to return to the form that characterized the team in recent weeks. Until the last round, Hapoel held a streak of four unbeaten games, three of which were victories.

Entering the match, Hapoel sits in 5th place in the table with 25 points and a goal difference of 29:20. On the other hand, the visitors from the Port City arrive at the encounter in 10th place, with 18 points and a goal difference of 22:33.

The two teams are very familiar with each other from recent times: just ten days ago, they met at the exact same stadium for the 8th Round of the State Cup. As recalled, Hapoel had the upper hand with a convincing 3:0 victory, with goals from Roy Korine (brace) and Anas Mahamid.

In addition to the State Cup meeting, the teams have met twice this season in official competitions.

The first meeting was held during the Toto Cup group stage at Bloomfield Stadium, where Hapoel showed superiority and won 2:0. Daniel Dappa scored the first in the 22nd minute, and Ran Binyamin sealed the result deep in stoppage time (96).

The second meeting, held in Matchweek 4 of the Premier League at the Yud-Alef Stadium in Ashdod, turned into an unforgettable offensive display. Hapoel returned from the Port City with a crushing 6:2 away victory. The list of scorers that evening: Daniel Dappa opened the celebration (7), Roei Alkukin completed a great brace (13, 36), an own goal (29), Stav Toriel (42), and Chico Alves (77) completed the sextet.

Match Information

History Tells Us

The two teams have met no less than 63 times in the top flight, providing quite a few dramatic games, plenty of goals, and unforgettable moments over the years.

The Full Record:

Record when Hapoel is the Host:

The first historic meeting between Hapoel and Ashdod was held on October 30, 1999, in the 9th round. Hapoel traveled to the stadium in Ashdod and won 2:1, with a goal by Pini Balili and an own goal by the hosts.

Hapoel's biggest home league win over M.S. Ashdod was on March 16, 2019, when they won 5:1 at HaMoshava Stadium. Scorers for Hapoel in that game: Nerijus Valskis (45+1), Ahmed Abed (59), Ramzi Safouri (73), Claudemir Ferreira (78), Idan Cohen (84).

In the last five league matches between the two at Bloomfield, Hapoel has won two and los

t three. The last game was the relegation match on May 11, 2024, in which they were defeated 2:0 in front of 25,550 Reds.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv suffered a 1-0 defeat tonight at Teddy Stadium against Beitar Jerusalem as part of Matchday 16 of the Winner League.

Hapoel entered the match following their qualification for the State Cup Round of 16, aiming to maintain the positive momentum from recent weeks. Despite the spirit and the drive to collect points at the top of the table, the match—played under heavy rain—ended in a narrow 1-0 loss.

In the 10th minute, Roy Alkokin found the back of the net, sparking celebrations in the stands, but the goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review. Just three minutes later, the opponent scored a goal that was confirmed by the VAR officials.

Until the end of the first half, Hapoel reached several good scoring opportunities, but a lack of clinical finishing prevented the equalizer. In the second half, the players continued to press and try to break through the opponent's defense to level the score, but without success. Moments before the final whistle, Anas Mahamid received a straight red card and was sent off.

Following the result, Hapoel concludes Matchday 16 in 5th place with 25 points and a goal difference of 29:20 (+9).

Hapoel Lineup: Asaf Tzur, Shahar Piven (Tal Archel – 9’), Fernan Mayembo {C}, Chico Alves, Yazan Nassar, Lucas Falcao, Andrian Kraev (Ari Cohen – 78’), Roei Alkukin (Amit Lemkin – 66’), Omri Altman (Roy Korine – 66’), Loizos Loizou, Daniel Dappa (Anas Mahamid – 78’, Sent off – 90’).

Referee: Igal Frid | Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem.

Next Match: Hapoel will host M.S. Ashdod at Bloomfield Stadium this coming Sunday (Jan 4) for Matchday 17 of the Premier League. Kick-off is at 20:15.

Match Events

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will visit Teddy Stadium tonight to face Beitar Jerusalem as part of the 16th round of the Winner League. Ahead of the encounter we have gathered all the statistical data the history between the teams and the interesting details you need to know before the opening whistle.

After securing qualification for the State Cup round of 16 Hapoel Tel Aviv returns tonight to the battle for the top of the Premier League as they head to Teddy Stadium for the prestigious match against their arch rival Beitar Jerusalem. The Reds arrive at the match in positive momentum counting a streak of three league matches without a loss including two victories in which the team scored nine goals.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Falcao will return to the squad and will be available for the professional staff after completing his suspension.

On the eve of this round Hapoel is ranked fourth in the table with 25 points and a goal difference of 29 to 19 while the host from the capital stands in second place with 33 points and a goal difference of 37 to 18.

The previous meeting between the two teams in the league held at Bloomfield Stadium provided one of the greatest dramas seen in Israeli football in recent years. Stav Turiel gave Hapoel an early lead in the 26th minute but the opponent managed to complete a comeback in the 78th minute to lead 2 to 1. Just when it seemed the game was heading for a loss Andrian Krayev headed a massive equalizer in the 90th minute. In the 98th minute the big moment arrived as Omri Altman sent a perfect free kick into the net to secure a 3 to 2 victory and a sweet heroic comeback.

Both teams met once more this season in the Toto Cup final held at Sami Ofer Stadium where Hapoel was defeated 2 to 1 with Stav Turiel scoring for Hapoel in the 90th minute.

Match Information

History

The long-standing rivalry between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem is one of the most fascinating and charged in Israeli football. From the first meeting until today, the teams have met 130 times, weaving a rich story of great battles, dramatic moments, and unforgettable goals.

Full Record:

Record with Hapoel as the Away Team:

The first league match between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beitar Jerusalem was held on March 5, 1955, at the YMCA field. Hapoel fell behind twice but managed to come back thanks to goals from Asher Balout (23') and Michael Michaelov (83'), ending in a 2-2 draw.

Over the years, Hapoel Tel Aviv has had particularly memorable away games against Beitar Jerusalem. The historical record shows impressive success in the capital, with 24 victories out of 62 away encounters.

Red dominance in the capital has continued in recent years: in the last five league matches hosted at Teddy Stadium, Hapoel has won four, with a total goal difference of 9:3 in its favor. In the most recent meeting at Teddy on October 2, 2023, the team recorded a 3-0 victory with a brace from Alen Ožbolt and a goal by Hisham Layous.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv defeated M.S. Ashdod 3-0 tonight in the State Cup Round of 32, securing their advancement to the Round of 16. Roy Korine starred with a brace and an assist.

Hapoel Tel Aviv took the first step in their cup campaign this Thursday evening, overcoming M.S. Ashdod with a convincing 3-0 victory. In front of approximately 10,000 fans who provided a magnificent atmosphere in the Bloomfield stands, Hapoel displayed superiority throughout the match and successfully translated their pressure into goals during the second half.

The Reds entered the encounter without Lucas Falcao, who was sidelined due to yellow card accumulation. From the first minute, Hapoel’s dominance was absolute, as the players pressed high and created several gilt-edged scoring opportunities. Despite spells of fluid attacking football, the teams went into the halftime break scoreless.

The momentum shifted in the 59th minute when an Ashdod defender received a second yellow card, leaving his team with ten men.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 73rd minute. Roei Alkokin delivered a superb through ball to Omri Altman, whose clever, delicate touch found Roy Korine. The latter remained composed and converted from close range to make it 1-0 for Hapoel.

Only seven minutes passed before Korine completed his brace. The midfielder controlled the ball inside the penalty area and unleashed a powerful strike into the back of the net, doubling Hapoel's lead.

Deep into stoppage time, Korine turned provider. His excellent through ball found Anas Mahamid, who showed great composure in front of goal to score Hapoel’s third and his first goal of the season in the red uniform.

Tonight’s victory maintains a perfect record against M.S. Ashdod in the State Cup. This marks Hapoel’s fourth win in four cup meetings against the side from Ashdod, and much like the previous three encounters, Hapoel maintained a clean sheet. The historical goal aggregate in cup matches between the two clubs now stands at 8-0 in favor of Hapoel.

Hapoel secures its place among the final 16 teams in the competition. The draw for the State Cup Round of 16 will be held this coming Sunday, December 28, at 11:00 AM.

Hapoel Lineup: Assaf Tzur, Shahar Piven, Fernand Mayembo (Captain), Chico Alves (Ziv Morgan – 82), Yazan Nassar, El Yam Kancepolsky (Roy Korine – 66), Andrian Kraev (Amit Lemkin – 82), Roei Alkokin, Omri Altman (Ari Cohen – 82), Loizos Loizou, Daniel Dappa (Anas Mahamid – 76).

The match was officiated by Aviel Levi in front of 10,000 spectators at Bloomfield Stadium.

Hapoel’s next match will take place next Thursday (January 1, 2026), when they travel to Teddy Stadium to face Beitar Jerusalem in the 16th round of the Israeli Premier League. Kickoff is scheduled for 20:30.

Match Timeline

5th Minute: Daniel Dappa received the ball inside the box, but facing the opposing goalkeeper, he failed to find the net as Nimciński parried his shot.

9th Minute: A tremendous effort by Loizos Loizou. A corner from Omri Altman landed on the Cypriot midfielder’s foot, who struck a magnificent volley that was only stopped by Nimciński.

65th Minute: A great cross into the box met the head of Loizou, but the Cypriot missed the target from close range.

73rd Minute: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv took a 1-0 lead. A wonderful team move concluded with Roy Korine’s strike from the right side of the area into the far left corner of the net.

80th Minute: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv made it 2-0. Korine was the first to react to a rebound after Nimciński parried a header, scoring his second from close range.

90+4 Minute: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv extended the lead to 3-0. The substitute striker received the ball from Korine on the right side of the box and fired a diagonal shot to seal the final result.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will host M.S. Ashdod tonight at Bloomfield Stadium for the Eighth Round of the State Cup. Ahead of the clash, we have gathered all the statistics, history between the teams, and interesting details you need to know before kickoff.

Hapoel Tel Aviv puts the league campaign on hold tonight (Thursday) and shifts its focus. The club joins the State Cup cycle in the Eighth Round, hosting M.S. Ashdod at Bloomfield Stadium with the clear objective of securing a spot in the Round of 16.

On the professional front, the coaching staff will have to manage without Lucas Falcao, who is serving a suspension and will not be included in the squad. Conversely, Roy Elkokin and Yazen Nassar return to the squad after completing their suspensions from the last match.

Season Head-to-Head The two teams have met twice in official competitions this season, with Hapoel having the upper hand in both instances: The first encounter took place during the Toto Cup group stage at Bloomfield Stadium, where Hapoel demonstrated superiority with a 2-0 victory. Daniel Dappa scored the opener in the 22nd minute, and Ran Binyamin sealed the result deep into stoppage time (96).

The second meeting, held on Matchday 4 of the League at the Yud-Alef Stadium in Ashdod, turned into an unforgettable offensive display. Hapoel returned from the port city with a crushing 6-2 away victory. The scorers that evening were: Daniel Dappa (7), Roy Elkokin with a brace (13, 36), an own goal (29), Stav Turiel (42), and Chico Alves (77).

Match Information

  • Date: Thursday, December 25, 2025, 20:00

  • Competition: State Cup, Eighth Round

  • Venue: Bloomfield Stadium

  • Main Referee: Aviel Levi

  • Assistant Referees: Omer Barbiro, Tuval Koltanoff

  • Fourth Official: Nael Odeh

  • Broadcast: Sport 5 HD

History Tells Us Hapoel and M.S. Ashdod are veteran rivals, having met 80 times to date in all official competitions. In the State Cup framework, the two have met three times. Below is the breakdown of the encounters:

Full Record:

  • 3 Matches

  • 3 Wins for Hapoel

  • Goal Difference: 5-0 to Hapoel

Home Record (Hapoel hosting):

  • 2 Matches

  • 2 Wins for Hapoel

  • Goal Difference: 2-0 to Hapoel

A reminder of the three State Cup encounters:

1. Ninth Round (2003): Omri Afek Makes the Difference On March 22, 2003, Hapoel met Ashdod in the Ninth Round. The game was largely balanced, but in the 66th minute, Omri Afek’s moment arrived. The midfielder found the net, broke the deadlock, and secured a crucial 1-0 victory that was enough to send Hapoel to the next stage.

2. Round of 16 (2006): The Great Away Performance Three years later, on March 4, 2006, the teams met again, this time in the Round of 16 at the Yud-Alef Stadium. The floodgates opened in the second half: Shay Abutbul started the celebration in the 54th minute, Elyaniv Barda doubled the lead 8 minutes later (62), and Ilya Yavruyan hammered the final nail in the 84

3. Semi-Final (2007): The Goal Worth a Final The most memorable and significant encounter took place on May 9, 2007. The setting: The State Cup Semi-Final. At stake: A ticket to the Grand Final at Ramat Gan Stadium. Hapoel didn't wait long. Already in the 4th minute, defender Tal Chen was in the right place to score a lightning-fast goal. The early lead (1-0) was maintained until the final whistle. This victory paved the way for the Cup win in that unforgettable season

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Bnei Reineh 3-1 this afternoon as part of Matchday 15 of the Winner League. A brace and an assist for Altman.

Prior to the opening whistle, the club and the fans bid farewell to Ran Binyamin. The talented midfielder, a product of the club's youth academy, is moving to the MLS to play for FC Dallas.

On the professional front, the coaching staff had to contend with a depleted squad, missing the suspended Roy Elkokin and Yazen Nassar, as well as the injured Stav Turiel and Doron Leidner.

The match began with a storm. The clock had barely passed the two-minute mark when a wonderful team move ended in the net: Mor Buskila started the play and found Omri Altman, who provided a clever one-touch pass to Loizos Loizou. The Cypriot fired a first-time shot inside. It was the Cypriot's second league goal of the season, giving Hapoel a quick 1-0 lead.

The visitors, fighting for survival at the bottom of the table, managed to equalize just three minutes later. 1-1.

Hapoel was not deterred by the equalizer and continued to dominate and search for the lead. In the 22nd minute, it arrived: Chico Alves, with excellent work on the left flank, sent a cross into the box. Omri Altman headed it in with great passion. 2-1 to Hapoel. The result held until the break despite several other promising chances for the Reds.

The second half opened in a more balanced manner, with the opponent trying to get back into the game, but Hapoel's defense stood firm. In the 75th minute came the moment that sealed the match: Omri Altman completed a wonderful personal brace and his third goal of the season, burying the third goal in the visitors' net. At the final whistle, an important 3-1 victory for Hapoel.

Following the victory, pending the completion of the round, Hapoel climbs to 4th place with 25 points (29-19 goal difference).

Played for Hapoel: Assaf Tzur, Shahar Piven (Tal Archel – 85), Fernand Mayembo {Captain}, Chico Alves, Ziv Morgan, Lucas Falcao, Andrian Kraev (El Yam Kancepolsky – 76), Loizos Loizou (Anas Mahamid – 85), Mor Buskila (Roy Korine – 61), Omri Altman (Amit Lemkin – 76), Daniel Dappa.

Referee Orel Grinfeld officiated in front of 13,700 spectators at Bloomfield Stadium.

Hapoel's next match will take place this coming Thursday (Dec 25) when they host M.S. Ashdod at Bloomfield Stadium for the 8th Round of the State Cup. The match will kick off at 20:00.

Match Diary

Minute 2: Goal! Hapoel takes a 1-0 lead: Less than two minutes from the opening whistle, Altman knocked down a good ball for Loizou, who fired a first-time shot into the net.

Minute 5: Reineh equalizes. 1-1.

Minute 9: A corner kick was lifted into the box, Kraev arrived first and headed it alone, but missed the target.

Minute 22: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv takes a 2-1 lead: A wonderful cross by Chico into the box reached the head of Altman, who infiltrated perfectly and headed it in from close range.

Minute 41: Loizou played a great cross to Daniel Dappa who struck a volley from the air, but Gliklich was well-positioned and parried it for a corner.

Minute 64: Loizou lifted a good ball to Daniel Dappa who was unmarked in the box, the striker headed from close range over the bar and missed a big opportunity.

Minute 75: Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv takes a 3-1 lead: Loizou fired a good shot from the edge of the box, Gliklich parried it exactly to the feet of Altman, who shot into the net from close range to complete a brace.

The youth team finished with a share of the points against the Jerusalem side. Olezki was sent off, Masika scored

The youth team faced Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday in Round 14 of the Youth Premier League, in an away match held at Lod Stadium.

Hapoel came into its third match in three days (a midweek round was played). As a reminder, last Saturday they defeated Hapoel Haifa 2:0, and on Tuesday beat Kiryat Shmona 1:0.

In the 60th minute, Ravid Olezki was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, leaving Hapoel with ten men. The hosts took the lead in the 78th minute, but three minutes before the end of regulation time Hapoel managed to equalize thanks to a second consecutive goal by Or Masika, who scored his sixth goal of the season.

Shahar Weisinger’s side remains top of the table with 31 points from a possible 42, two points clear of second-placed Maccabi Haifa (with a game in hand). In the next round, to be played next Saturday (Dec 27), they will host M.S. Ashdod - kickoff time to be announced.

Hapoel lineup: Yanal Bazadog, Yarin Shyovitz, Guy Aligolashvili, Giorgi Kuperva, Ilay Mori (Mkay Benbenisty, 81’), Itamar Chosyd (Ben Zaid, 81’), Yishai Brosh, Alon Moskovitz (Idan Kaplaner, 58’), Ron Talmi (Or Masika, 72’), Ravid Olezki, and Omri Levy (Shahar Nahum, 58’).

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will host Maccabi Bnei Reineh this afternoon as part of Matchday 15 of the Winner League. Ahead of the encounter, we have gathered all the key statistics, the history between the teams, and the main details you need to know before kickoff.

Hapoel return home and will welcome Maccabi Bnei Reineh this afternoon in Matchday 15. This will also be the team’s first home match of the second round of the Israeli Premier League.

The Reds come into the fixture after a 2:2 draw against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona in the previous round, with the aim of getting back to winning ways and continuing their push at the top end of the table.

Hapoel are currently fifth in the standings with 22 points and a goal difference of 26:18.

On the other hand, Maccabi Bnei Reineh sit at the bottom of the table with 4 points and a goal difference of 10:36.

The previous meeting between the sides in the first round delivered plenty of drama and ended in a 2:2 draw, after an equalizer by Adrian Kreib in the 94th minute. Hapoel’s first goal in that match was scored by Setiv Toureil in the 47th minute.

Match Information

Date: Saturday, 20/12/2025, 15:00
Competition: Israeli Premier League, Second Round, Matchday 15
Venue: Bloomfield Stadium
Referee: Ariel Greenfeld
Assistant Referees: Oshri Cohen, Daniel Ben Hur
VAR Referees: Aviad Shiloh, Nati Dotan
Fourth Official: Nael Odeh
Broadcast: Sport 4 HD

Head to Head History

Maccabi Bnei Reineh are a relatively new club in the football landscape, and Hapoel have faced them six times in league competition to date. Here is a closer look at the full record between the teams.

Overall record:
6 matches
2 wins for Hapoel
3 draws
1 win for Reineh
Goal difference: 8:6 in favor of Hapoel

Matches hosted by Hapoel:
3 matches
1 win for Hapoel
1 draw
1 win for Reineh
Goal difference: 3:2 in favor of Hapoel

The first ever meeting between the two sides took place on 15 October 2022 at Bloomfield Stadium, when Hapoel Tel Aviv claimed a 2:0 victory with goals from Dan Einbinder in the 62nd minute and Alen Ožbolt in the 67th.

In February 2023, the teams met for the second time, this time at Netanya Stadium, and the match ended in a 1:1 draw. Alen Ožbolt gave Hapoel the lead deep into first half stoppage time, before the home side equalized in the 77th minute.

In April of the same year, the teams met again at Bloomfield Stadium, where Reineh recorded their only historical victory over Hapoel with a 2:1 win.

During the 2023/24 season, the encounters remained tight and highly competitive. In December 2023, Hapoel secured a 2:1 victory in a match that saw goals from Omer Senior in the 17th minute and Omri Altman from the penalty spot in the 41st. In February 2024, the final meeting of that season ended in a goalless 0:0 draw.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv opened the second round of the Winner League with a dramatic 2:2 draw against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona. Stav Toriel and Roei Alkukin both scored and assisted one another.

Hapoel began the match at a high tempo, applying early pressure on the northern side in the fixture that marked the start of the league’s second round.

The dominance was reflected as early as the seventh minute. A superb cross from Stav Toriel found Roei Alkukin, who bundled the ball home to give Hapoel an early lead. It was Alkukin’s third league goal of the season.

The Reds continued to control proceedings, with Daniel Dappa getting into several promising positions but unable to extend the advantage. The first half ended with a 0:1 lead for Hapoel.

Early in the second half, another impressive team move followed. A perfectly weighted through ball from Dappa put Alkukin and Toriel through on goal. The young midfielder selflessly set up Toriel, who made no mistake and scored his ninth league goal of the season to double the lead.

In the 78th minute, a VAR intervention changed the course of the match. Alkukin was shown a red card, forcing Hapoel to play the closing stages with ten men.

The drama reached its peak deep into an unusually long stoppage time that lasted no less than 17 minutes. In the 98th minute, a penalty was awarded to the home side following a foul that was ruled to have occurred outside the box. The penalty was converted, and the match ended in a 2:2 draw.

Following the draw, Hapoel sit fourth in the table with 22 points and a goal difference of 26:18.

Hapoel lineup:
Assaf Tzur, Shahar Piven, Fernand Mayembo (captain), Chico Alves, Yazan Nassar, Andrian Kraev, Lucas Falcao (El Yam Kancepolsky, 89), Roei Alkukin (sent off, 78), Stav Toriel (Mor Buskila, 69) (Ziv Morgan, 81), Loizos Loizou (Ari Cohen, 89), Daniel Dappa (Omri Altman, 69).

Referee: Gal Levy at Miriam Stadium, Netanya.

Hapoel’s next match will take place next Saturday (20/12), when they host Maccabi Bnei Reineh at Bloomfield Stadium in Round 15 of the Premier League. Kickoff is scheduled for 15:00.

Match Events

7th minute. Goal. Hapoel Tel Aviv take a 1:0 lead.
Lucas Falcao won the ball, played it to the right for Stav Toriel, who delivered a low cross. Roei Alkukin finished first time, sending the ball past Daniel Tenenbaum and into the net.

18th minute.
Loizou surged down the left flank and found Daniel Dappa completely unmarked inside the box in a one on one situation against Tenenbaum. The young striker struck the ball, but the visiting goalkeeper made the save.

44th minute.
A quick Hapoel attack developed down the left through Yazan Nassar. The full back entered the box and had the option to square the ball, but chose a powerful shot on target. Daniel Tenenbaum parried.

51st minute. Goal. Hapoel Tel Aviv go up 2:0
Daniel Dappa played a brilliant through ball, putting Roei Alkukin and Stav Toriel clean through on goal against Tenenbaum. Alkukin returned the favor from the first half with a selfless pass, and Hapoel’s leading scorer calmly rolled in his ninth league goal of the season.

55th minute.
Another big chance for Dappa, who narrowly missed. Toriel delivered a sharp free kick to the perfect area, and the young striker volleyed first time over the crossbar.

57th minute.
2:1.

67th minute.
A huge opportunity for Luizuo, who received the ball following a steal by Falcao, entered the box and fired a powerful shot. Tenenbaum saved, the rebound deflected dangerously toward his own goal off a defender, but the goalkeeper reacted again and pushed it out for a corner.

78th minute.
Roei Alkukin was sent off with a red card following a VAR review.

90+8th minute.
A penalty is awarded to Kiryat Shmona, who score from the spot. 2:2