Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures Crucial Win, Coach Bets Pay Off

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a vital 2-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva on Sunday, easing pressure on the club after a challenging start to the season. With over 3,000 fans in attendance at the Moshavah Stadium, the reigning champions needed a win to avoid falling further behind the league leaders after only four matches.

Coach Ran Kochav implemented a forced rotation, bringing in players like Itay Hazut and Yoni Stoyanov, who had not featured in recent games, to keep the squad fresh for upcoming matches. This strategic gamble paid off, with club sources noting, "The bet paid off. Kochav gained players for Wednesday and achieved the win, not with great football, but these are three very important points."

The team may have also rediscovered a key player in Hamudi Kanaan. Despite a recent dip in form and being left out of the squad against Maccabi Tel Aviv, Kanaan came on at halftime and immediately made an impact with an assist and a goal, becoming the hero of the victory. "If he shows continuity and the minutes he receives increase, it might be that Ran has gained a game-changer," said club officials, expressing hope that Kanaan's confidence will return.

Another player receiving praise was Niv Yehoshua, whose seamless integration into the team and playing style was described as "amazing." His familiarity with Kochav from their time at Maccabi Petah Tikva was seen as helpful, but his performance was deemed "fantastic" regardless, a "big bingo" for the coach.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is set to travel for their match against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, with further squad changes expected. Igor Zlatanovic is anticipated to make his first appearance since recovering from an injury, though Roi Levi and Stoyanov will not be eligible for the Europa League fixture.