Beitar Jerusalem Suffers Humiliating 4-1 Opening Day Defeat

Beitar Jerusalem began their Israeli Premier League season with a heavy 4-1 home loss to Maccabi Netanya at Bloomfield Stadium. Despite a solid performance from goalkeeper Miguel Silva, the team's midfield was largely ineffective, and the defense struggled against Netanya's quick attack.

Much of the criticism was directed at midfielder Boris Enow, who has been in poor form. Club sources noted, "We thought the meeting with family would do him good. Since Yarin left, he hasn't been on track, he needs help, and he didn't get it last night." The team is seeking a more aggressive midfield presence.

Almog Cohen made his debut as head coach, employing a high press strategy. However, Netanya's speedy offense repeatedly bypassed Beitar's defense. The club acknowledged that they would "pay tuition" for Cohen's inexperience, stating, "No coach becomes successful in one day. He has many shares in Beitar Jerusalem, he knows what to do and what needs to be fixed going forward."

Injuries also played a role, with Nana Antwi leaving the game due to an injury. The team hopes that Yarden Shua, who was not fully fit and only came on as a substitute in the 60th minute, will be able to start in their next match against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Beitar Jerusalem is also working to expedite the signing of Colombian midfielder Alexis Serna from Independiente Medellín. Despite the disappointing result and performance, the club emphasized that their season goals remain unchanged and they will focus on learning from their mistakes.