Beitar Jerusalem Secures Third Straight Win, Tops Haifa

Beitar Jerusalem achieved its third consecutive league victory on Saturday, defeating Hapoel Haifa 2-1. This win provides a significant morale boost as the team heads into the international break. Despite criticism earlier in the season regarding the squad and tactics, the recent success suggests Beitar has found its footing in the league.

The match saw Beitar dominate offensively, with goalkeeper Yoav Jerrabi of Hapoel Haifa making crucial saves, including stopping a penalty from Beitar's Yarden Shua. Beitar played with a numerical advantage for a significant portion of the game after an early red card for Hapoel Haifa's Yaad Gonen. However, Beitar also had a player sent off, Brian Karabali, which helped to balance the game.

Key players contributing to the win included Ro'i Alimalech and Tomer Yosefi, who provided another assist. Omer Atzili led the team in the absence of Shua, who did not start. Shua, upon entering the game, showed flashes of brilliance but appeared to be lacking his previous season's form. He later complained of a muscle injury and will be examined by a national team doctor, missing a post-game training session.

Coach Almog Cohen faces decisions regarding Shua's role and the team's foreign player slots, especially with the impending return of Nana Owusu from injury and Yarden Cohen after the break. Adi Yona and Ziv Ben Shimol were not utilized in the recent match, indicating increased competition for places.

Looking ahead, Beitar Jerusalem will face Hapoel Ramat Gan after the break, followed by a match against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Cohen also had a seemingly positive encounter with Ariel Mandi, who was previously linked to Cohen's departure from a prior role.