Hapoel Haifa Secures Dramatic Late Victory Over Maccabi Petah Tikva

Hapoel Haifa secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday, following the international break. The win temporarily moved them to fifth place in the Israeli Premier League standings with nine points from a possible eighteen. The team initially took the lead through Alon Turgeman, but the advantage was nullified. A controversial VAR decision disallowed a late goal by substitute Itay Zafrani in the 84th minute, which the club described as "very strange" and "a bad decision," expressing relief that "justice was done in other ways."

In dramatic fashion, Sali Fahima scored deep into stoppage time, securing the win for Hapoel Haifa and coach Haim Silvas. Team owner Yoav Katz expressed his relief that the three-week break did not lead to complacency, but stressed the need for improvement to reach their goal of a top playoff spot. He acknowledged the strong competition in the league and hoped the players would continue to work hard.

Hapoel Haifa is preparing to host Hapoel Ramat Gan in their next match. Efforts are underway to get injured players William Agada and Tal Naim, who missed the recent game, ready for the upcoming fixture. Defender Ariel Mendi delivered a strong performance despite a recent calf strain that had put his participation in doubt. Substitutes Sali Fahima and Itay Zafrani also received praise for their impactful contributions off the bench.

Following the victory, Hapoel Haifa hosted Oren Agmon, the father of fallen soldier Sergeant Adam Agmon, who was killed on October 7th. Oren Agmon, visibly moved, shared that his son was also a footballer who never gave up. He expressed how important and emotional it was for him to be with the team, stating that these moments help him feel connected to his son and continue living.