Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv was defeated 2–0 tonight in Netanya by the local Maccabi side in Matchday 8 of the Israeli Premier League.
Hapoel arrived at the Netanya Stadium accompanied by the Red Army in the stands, looking to return to winning ways after last week’s derby was canceled.
Throughout most of the match, Hapoel completely dominated play, created numerous scoring chances, and dictated the tempo, but poor finishing in front of goal prevented the team from taking the lead.
Already in the first half, the Red Devils recorded 12 attempts on goal, but none found the back of the net.
In the second half, Hapoel continued to press and control the game, but in the 69th minute, team captain Fernand Mayembo was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Netanya took advantage of the numerical superiority, scoring in the 71st minute to make it 1–0, and added another goal in stoppage time to seal the 2–0 victory.
After eight league rounds, Hapoel sits in fourth place in the Premier League table with 13 points and a goal difference of 15:11.
Hapoel’s next match will take place on Tuesday (October 28) against Beitar Jerusalem in the Toto Cup Final at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa, with kickoff at 20:30.
Hapoel lineup:
Assaf Tzur, Shahar Piven, Fernand Mayembo (captain, sent off 69’), Chico, Yazan Nassar (Doron Leidner 62’), Lucas Falcao (Roi Elkocin 73’), Andrian Kraiev, Ran Benjamin (Shanda Silva 73’), Stav Turiel (El Yam Kanzpolsky 73’), Loizos Loizou, Omri Altman (Daniel Dappa 62’).
Referee: Aviv Klein
Venue: Miriam Stadium, Netanya
Match Timeline
9’ – Loizou received the ball from Piven, cut to his left foot and fired; his shot was blocked, the rebound reached Nassar who crossed, and Ran Benjamin’s close-range header beat Nir On but hit the post.
13’ – Nassar’s sharp cross found Kraiev rising above everyone, but his header missed the target by centimeters.
14’ – A right-side corner by Turiel found Falcao unmarked, but his header also went just wide.
22’ – Loizou dribbled past a defender and unleashed a rocket toward goal, but Nir On produced a brilliant save to push it for a corner.
41’ – Ran Benjamin dribbled past two defenders on the left and curled toward the far corner, but Nir On was again there to parry.
54’ – Turiel played a short corner, sending a sharp pass that deflected off Plakuschenko to Mayembo, who was left alone in the box but sent his shot wide from close range.
69’ – Red card: Fernand Mayembo.
71’ – 1–0, Maccabi Netanya.
90+2’ – 2–0, Maccabi Netanya.