Hapoel Petah Tikva Secures First Win of Season with 1-0 Victory Over Hapoel Jerusalem

Hapoel Petah Tikva earned their first victory of the 2026/27 season on Saturday night, defeating Hapoel Jerusalem 1-0. The match, held in Petah Tikva, saw midfielder Karim Kimbidi score the only goal in the 14th minute, delivering a powerful shot that slightly deflected off the Jerusalem defense and hit the crossbar before going in. Kimbidi was also named the best player on the field for his performance.

The visitors, Hapoel Jerusalem, struggled to equalize throughout the first half and remained scoreless at halftime. In the second half, Jerusalem showed some improvement in controlling the game's pace under coach Lior Zada but failed to create significant scoring opportunities. A notable moment came in the 80th minute when substitute Israel Dapa was brought down in the penalty area. Referee David Fuchsman initially did not award a penalty but reviewed the incident with VAR for about three minutes before deciding against a penalty.

The match ended 1-0 in favor of Petah Tikva, who can take encouragement from their improved play and the breakthrough win. Meanwhile, Hapoel Jerusalem remains without points after two rounds and faces pressure to find solutions to their offensive struggles as the season progresses.