Hapoel Tel Aviv Recovers from Derby Loss with 3-0 Victory

Hapoel Tel Aviv bounced back from a significant derby defeat with a decisive 3-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Israeli Premier League. Goals from Emmanuel Boateng in the 10th minute and Chico in the 17th, along with an own goal by Hapoel Petah Tikva's Orr Israelov in the 55th minute, secured the victory for coach Eliniv Barda's team.

The win helps Hapoel Tel Aviv regain momentum after a challenging period, which included the derby loss. "We had four shaking days," said Barda, referring to the aftermath of the derby. "We have a long way to go to compensate the fans for four sleepless nights." He also addressed team rotation, stating that all 22-23 players are worthy of starting and decisions will be made based on game needs.

Conversely, Hapoel Petah Tikva, managed by Omer Peretz, experienced a difficult start to the season, compounded by the red card shown to Karim Kimwidi after receiving a second yellow card. "Our start was very lethargic, very weak," Peretz admitted. "The red card finished us." Despite the loss, Peretz expressed belief in his team's potential, stating, "I say with a full mouth after this blow that there is a very good team here and we will come back stronger after the break."

Emmanuel Boateng expressed satisfaction with the crucial win, especially after the tough week. "The derby is one of the most important games for us, and it was important that we excelled today after the loss," he said. Regarding criticism, Boateng stated, "The fans can criticize and say whatever they want, I just want to do my job."

Goalkeeper Omer Katz acknowledged the team's poor performance but maintained faith in the squad. "It might sound strange, but I really believe in this team," he said. "The break will do us good, and I'm sure we'll look better going forward."