Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv clinched a dramatic and sweet 3–2 victory over Beitar Jerusalem tonight, thanks to a stunning 98th-minute winner by Omri Altman
After a two-week international break, Hapoel returned to Bloomfield Stadium, backed by the mighty Red Army, for the big clash against their fierce rivals from Jerusalem.
Hapoel entered the match without the suspended Shanda Silva, yet already in the first half showed slight superiority. In the 26th minute, following a VAR review, a penalty was awarded to the Reds. Stav Turiel converted calmly from the spot – his third goal in as many matches – to give Hapoel a 1–0 lead.
In stoppage time of the first half, almost out of nowhere, Beitar managed to equalize with their first dangerous chance, sending the teams into the break at 1–1.
The second half was completely dominated by Hapoel, who missed three golden opportunities and hit the crossbar twice. But in the 78th minute, against the run of play and from yet another set-piece, Beitar scored to take a 2–1 lead.
Then came the great drama. In the 90th minute, when it seemed Hapoel were heading for defeat, Andrian Kraiev rose high and powered a header into the net – 2–2. Just eight minutes later, Omri Altman stepped up and curled a perfect free kick into the goal, turning Bloomfield into a sea of red celebration.
Hapoel recorded tonight one of their sweetest and most dramatic wins ever against Beitar – from an almost certain loss to an unforgettable triumph, a huge 3–2 that adds another thrilling chapter to this historic rivalry.
With the win, Hapoel move up to third place in the standings with 7 points after three matches and a goal difference of 7:5 (+2).
Hapoel lineup:
Asaf Tzur, Shahar Piven (Anas Mahamid – 84’), Fernand Mayembo {C}, Chico, Doron Leidner (Yazan Nassar – 84’), Lucas Falcao (Mor Buskila – 80’), Andrian Kraiev, Ran Benjamin (Amit Lemkin – 62’), Roee Alkukin, Stav Turiel, Daniel Dappa (Omri Altman – 80’)
Referee: Gal Leibovich | Attendance: 22,593 at Bloomfield.
Match Timeline
22’ – Referee Gal Leibovich was called to VAR to check a possible penalty after Grigori Morozov held Fernand Mayembo in the box. After review, he pointed to the spot!
26’ – Goal! Stav Turiel calmly slotted the penalty into the center of the net. Miguel Silva dived the wrong way. 1–0 Hapoel.
36’ – Hapoel thought they had their second goal when Chico’s header went in, but after review it was disallowed as Falcao was judged to have blocked goalkeeper Miguel Silva.
45+3’ – Goal. 1–1.
51’ – Daniel Dappa received a through ball from Roee Alkukin, shook off Gil Cohen, and fired powerfully, but missed the target.
64’ – Dappa raced against Miguel Silva for a loose ball. The keeper cleared it out only as far as Doron Leidner, who attempted an audacious long-range curler, but it bent too much and went wide.
65’ – Amit Lemkin latched onto a pass from Alkukin and tried his luck from distance, but his strike crashed off the crossbar.
68’ – Dappa controlled the ball inside the box and laid it off to Alkukin, who beat his marker and shot past Silva, but Carabali made a last-ditch header off the line to save Beitar.
71’ – Lemkin pushed forward and slipped a pass to Doron Leidner, who squared first-time to Dappa, but the striker missed again as the ball whistled past the post.
78’ – Goal. 2–1 Beitar.
87’ – Turiel tried a powerful shot from a tight angle that rattled the crossbar. The rebound fell to Yazan Nassar, who headed wide.
90’ – Goal! Turiel crossed from the right and Andrian Kraiev thundered a header home. 2–2.
90+5’ – Beitar’s Gil Cohen was shown a straight red card for fouling Omri Altman on his way to goal.
90+8’ – Goal! Omri Altman curled a magnificent free kick from 20 meters into the net. 3–2 Hapoel!
