Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures Third Straight League Win, Eyes Europa League Success

Hapoel Be'er Sheva returned from the break with a 2-0 victory over Ironi Tiberias, marking their third consecutive league win and temporarily moving them to third place in the standings. Coach Kuzuch acknowledged the team's lack of intelligence during the match, stating, "Instead of moving the ball, we participated in Tiberias' chaos, and that created a lot of space for them." He added that the players need to leverage their strengths over the opponent's and that they will learn from the experience.

Kuzuch praised the contributions of new players, including Amankwaa Forson for his goal and assist and Joaao Victor for his goal, emphasizing the importance of integrating new signings into the team's routine. "It's important for us that the new players get minutes and get into our routine," he said, wishing them luck. He also noted the team's potential to create more chances and their ongoing work to address weaknesses.

Looking ahead to the Europa League, Kuzuch expressed the team's ambition to be competitive against Alkmaar, despite acknowledging the power dynamics. "Alkmaar is at home, but we are hungry, we dream, and we want to be successful in the Europa League too," he stated. "We understand the balance of power and where their advantages lie, and we will need to execute."

Goalkeeper Ofir Marciano also commented on the upcoming European match, reflecting on the complex situation in Israel and expressing sadness that fans will not be present. "We live in a very complex country and a complex situation. I am just a football player. It's sad the fans won't be with us," he said, hoping for a change and vowing to give their best.

Ironi Tiberias, on the other hand, suffered their second consecutive loss, remaining with only one point after having their initial deficit removed. Coach Alon Ziv expressed disappointment, stating, "Very disappointing, we leave with disappointed feelings. We came as prepared as possible against a team like Be'er Sheva." He acknowledged that his team responded well after falling behind and aimed for at least a point, minimizing errors.

Ziv added that his team is playing against very strong opponents and needs to focus on the zero points gained, despite the players understanding the game. "We need to emphasize that we got zero points. We managed to keep the team alive throughout the game," he said. He also noted that the team has overcome its initial points deduction and is working to narrow the quality gap against top teams like Be'er Sheva, despite the frustration of the loss.