Hapoel Be'er Sheva Wins Dramatic Season Opener with Late Free Kick

Hapoel Be'er Sheva kicked off the Israeli Premier League season on August 29, 2026, with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan. The winning goal came in the 90th minute from a beautiful free kick by Eliel Peretz. Coach Ran Kozoch highlighted the team's resilience and focus, recalling a halftime moment when he asked the players what their profession was, emphasizing that winning games is their true job. He praised the players as "super athletes" for overcoming challenges and maintaining composure despite a momentary lapse.

Kozoch also addressed the disappointment of their recent Champions League elimination, stressing the importance of perspective and mental strength in sports. Looking ahead, he expressed readiness for upcoming challenges, including matches against top clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv, and spoke about the need for further squad reinforcements. The coach also commended the fans for their passionate support, noting how they silenced boos and rallied behind the team.

Players also shared their thoughts post-match. Itay Rotman expressed gratitude for the warm reception at the club and emphasized the importance of winning both in Europe and domestically. Masai Dego, despite his team's loss, acknowledged the tough competition and the need to improve results quickly. Matan Hozez reflected on the team's good performance and his personal satisfaction with scoring, while remaining motivated to continue improving.

Overall, Hapoel Be'er Sheva demonstrated strong team spirit and determination in their season opener, setting a positive tone for the league campaign ahead.