Beitar Jerusalem Suffers Heavy 4-1 Defeat to Maccabi Netanya in Season Opener

Beitar Jerusalem began the 2026/27 Israeli Premier League season with a painful 4-1 home loss to Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield Stadium on Saturday. Despite taking an early lead through Daniel Vorko, Beitar collapsed in the second half, allowing Netanya to avenge last season's 8-2 defeat. Coach Almog Cohen admitted the team failed to show up from the start, citing poor ball losses and limited influence over the players. He apologized to the fans for the disappointing performance and urged patience, emphasizing the need to regroup ahead of their next match against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Midfielder Tomer Yosefi also expressed frustration, highlighting that the team did not reflect the hard work of the past two months and stressed the importance of defensive improvements. The match saw tensions flare when dozens of Beitar fans attempted to storm the pitch after Netanya's third goal, requiring police intervention.

Maccabi Netanya coach Roni Levi praised his team's resilience and tactical execution, noting the contributions of young players like 19-year-old Beni Feldman and 16-year-old Yarin Abuhatzira. Levi highlighted the effective partnership between Matheus Dabo and Oz Bilu, who both scored, with Dabo netting a hat-trick, his first in his career. Levi also commended Dolev Haziza's leadership and work ethic, emphasizing his positive influence on the squad.

Dabo expressed joy over his personal achievement and the team's victory, thanking teammates for their assists and underscoring the squad's competitive spirit. The loss marks a challenging start for Beitar Jerusalem, who must quickly recover to meet their season objectives.