Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Rages at Referees After Victory

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva on Sunday, returning to winning ways after a difficult week. Substitute Hamoudi Kanaan made an immediate impact, assisting the first goal and scoring the second just four minutes later. Coach Ran Kozuch emphasized the importance of the win, especially with a European match against Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on the horizon.

Kozuch acknowledged the team's struggles following a loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv but praised his players for a mature and solid performance. He stressed the need to rebuild confidence, highlighting the challenges of integrating new players and managing a demanding schedule of games and travel. "We have a very strong team, facing more challenges this year than last year," Kozuch stated, emphasizing his focus on restoring the players' belief in themselves.

Discussing Kanaan's decisive contribution, Kozuch pointed to the reward for players who are ready when called upon, regardless of their previous status. He explained that some players might not be in the squad one week but start the next, underscoring the team's unified goal of achieving success both domestically and in Europe.

In a post-match press conference, Kozuch sharply criticized the referees, calling their treatment of coaches "beyond any limit" and their conduct "below any criticism." He expressed frustration over receiving a yellow card, contrasting it with how other coaches are treated when they express frustration. Kozuch also recalled instances in European games where refereeing errors negatively impacted his team, but noted that in those games, he felt the referees were not a significant factor in the outcome.

Hapoel Petah Tikva coach Omer Peretz acknowledged Be'er Sheva's dominance but felt the game lacked clear chances for both sides. He attributed the loss to poor decision-making in the second half and a needless turnover that led to the first goal. Peretz remains optimistic about his team's potential, anticipating further signings to strengthen the squad and improve their style of play.