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.
