Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv loses 1-0 tonight in the Tel Aviv Derby as part of Matchday 27 of the Winner League.
Hapoel kicked off the Upper Playoff matches arriving in excellent form, following an impressive streak of ten league games without a defeat.
The match started at a high pace, with the opponent managing to create a slight advantage early on and capitalizing on one of their few attacks to score the opening goal.
Despite the less-than-ideal start, Hapoel got into the game from the 20th minute onwards and began to control the proceedings on the pitch.
The Reds reached two excellent situations through the feet of Emmanuel Boateng, but the striker failed to translate the opportunities into an equalizing goal, and the teams went down to the break with Hapoel trailing 1-0.
This trend continued at the start of the second half, as Hapoel continued to hold possession, take the initiative, and apply pressure in order to find the equalizer.
In the 50th minute, it seemed the efforts had borne fruit, but a goal by Chico was ruled out for offside.
Until the final whistle, Hapoel tried to find the net, but without success, and the match ended in defeat.
Following the matchday, Hapoel remains in fourth place in the table with 49 points, in addition to a two-point deduction by the disciplinary court, and a goal difference of 46:27 (+19).
Played for Hapoel: Assaf Tzur, Marcus Coco, Fernand Mayembo {Captain} (Mor Buskila – 74), Chico Alves, Doron Leidner, Lucas Falcao (El Yam Kancepolsky – 86), Tal Archel, Stav Toriel, Loizos Loizou (Roy Korine – 86), Xande Silva (Omri Altman – 65), Emmanuel Boateng (Roei Alkukin – 74).
Refereed by Yigal Frid at Bloomfield Stadium.
Hapoel's next game will take place on Saturday (25/4) when they will be hosted by Hapoel Petah Tikva as part of Matchday 28 of the Winner League. The match will be held at Shlomo Bituach Stadium and will kick off at 20:00.
Events
Minute 12: Hapoel concedes.
Minute 27: Loizos Loizou, with a stunning turn in midfield, lost Sissoko and immediately sent a wonderful through ball to Emmanuel Boateng; the striker, one-on-one from a slightly difficult angle, missed Melika's target.
Minute 38: Xande Silva found Boateng with an amazing ball, leaving him completely alone facing Melika, but he shot straight at the goalkeeper's body.
Minute 45+2: Doron Leidner controlled the ball; Boateng, who was offside, opened his legs to let it through, and the full-back surged towards the box but shot off target.
Minute 50: Chico scored from a rebound after Melika parried a header from Fernand Mayembo, but the VAR called Frid to watch the monitor, and he decided Mayembo was offside, ruling out the goal.
Minute 82: A corner kick by Stav Toriel was punched away by Melika; Mor Buskila tried to get past his man, and the ball reached Doron Leidner, who missed the target with a powerful shot from outside the box.
Minute 83: Marcus Coco won the ball and sent Stav Toriel, who cut to the left side and curled it with his left foot to the far post, but the ball went wide.
Minute 90+8: The opponent was left with ten men following a red card.