Maccabi Netanya Coach Roni Levi Expresses Disappointment After 1-1 Draw

Maccabi Netanya coach Roni Levi expressed significant disappointment following his team's dramatic 1-1 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva on Saturday. "A big disappointment. We came here in very good condition, the team looked very good in training and I expected to see that in the game," Levi stated. He lamented missed opportunities and conceding from a single attack, adding, "We need to win by force sometimes."

Levi acknowledged the difficulty Hapoel Petah Tikva faces before their first win but expressed confidence in the team, believing a victory would be a turning point. He noted that new players Olivier and Isaac require time to integrate, and the team needs results quickly. Despite the setback, he remains convinced of the squad's strength.

Netanya player Maor Levy apologized for his actions after scoring the equalizer from a penalty in added time, which came after a mistake by Hapoel Petah Tikva goalkeeper Omer Katz. Levy explained he was undergoing a difficult period due to injury and emotions got the better of him, also mentioning an incident with a fan. He vowed to learn from the experience.

Regarding the controversial use of 12 players by Hapoel Petah Tikva, Levy stated the team needs to investigate the incident and that those responsible must bear the consequences. He emphasized the need to secure more points to achieve season goals, praising Isaac as a "amazing player."

Hapoel Petah Tikva coach Omer Peretz addressed the 12-player situation, explaining it stemmed from a substitution error where Boni Amian did not exit the field in time for Tomer Altman to enter. He described the outcome as feeling like a loss due to a lack of concentration. Peretz also commented on goalkeeper Omer Katz's mistake, attributing it to a split-second judgment error, but affirmed Katz's past reliability.

Goal scorer Roi David shared his happiness at scoring but expressed disappointment in not maintaining the lead. He acknowledged the pressure of expectations and stated his commitment to scoring. David described the team's defensive stance after scoring as a natural reaction that unfortunately led to conceding.