Hapoel Tel Aviv Wins Despite Playing With 10 Men for 85 Minutes

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bnei Yehuda on Saturday, despite playing with ten men for over 85 minutes. The team was reduced to ten players in the fourth minute when Adrian Krave received a red card. The decisive goal came late in the match from a penalty converted by Omri Altman.

Following the game, Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Aliniv Brada praised his team's character and resilience. "We didn't feel like we were playing with ten players," Brada stated, attributing the performance to the extra energy, tactical discipline, and the crowd's support. He acknowledged that goalkeeper Assaf Tzur kept them in the game at crucial moments, but overall felt his team controlled the match well and created good opportunities.

Brada also commented on pre-game talk about the team's strong defense, suggesting it was distracting. He emphasized the need to perform well in every game, ideally staying with 11 players on the field. He noted the league's increased competitiveness, partly due to the eight-foreigner rule, and commended his team's physical conditioning.

Bnei Yehuda coach Alon Ziv expressed disappointment with the result, particularly given the early numerical advantage. "It's a disappointing, even naive game," Ziv said, lamenting missed opportunities and a lack of control despite the extra player. He explained a halftime substitution aimed at strengthening the midfield backfired when Hapoel scored on a counter-attack.

Ziv acknowledged Hapoel's aggressive style and intensity, stating that even with a man advantage, his team anticipated a difficult match. He admitted they struggled to fully capitalize on their superior numbers and failed to secure even a point. Looking ahead, Ziv stressed the need for his team to improve and secure points even when not playing at their best, as they prepare for their next match against Maccabi Netanya.