Hapoel Be'er Sheva Coach Ran Kochav Finds New Talent in Victory

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva on Sunday, easing pressure on coach Ran Kochav after a challenging start to the season. With over 3,000 fans in attendance at the Moshavah Stadium, the team responded to a difficult situation, entering the fourth matchday needing a win to avoid falling significantly behind the league leaders.

Kochav implemented a rotation strategy to keep players fresh for upcoming matches, including a European fixture against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday and a league game against Kiryat Shmona on Saturday. This led to starts for Itay Hazut and Yoni Stoyanov, who had not been in the squad for recent games. Club sources noted that the gamble paid off, yielding three vital points, even if the performance wasn't spectacular, and potentially providing the coach with more options for the European tie.

A significant development was the performance of Hamudi Kanaan. The midfielder, who had seen his role diminish and was even left out of the squad against Maccabi Tel Aviv, came on at halftime. He immediately made an impact with a quick assist and a goal, becoming the hero of the win. Club officials expressed hope that Kanaan, who has overcome injuries, can build on this performance and regain his confidence, potentially becoming a game-changing player for the team.

Another player receiving praise was Niv Yehoshua, whose smooth 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 overall performance was deemed "fantastic" and a "great bingo" for the coach.

The team is set to travel for their match against Dinamo Zagreb, 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 match.