Netanya Beats Kiryat Shmona on Late Penalty; Coaches Lament Missed Chances

Maccabi Netanya secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona on Saturday, ending a four-game winless streak. The decisive goal came in the 74th minute from Matheus Dabo's penalty kick at the Netanya Stadium. Maccabi Netanya coach Ronny Levy acknowledged the pressure of the match, stating, "We understood this game was very important for us and the opponent, so there was certainly pressure from everything surrounding football, and it was evident." He praised his team's resilience, noting, "We started the game very well and had several clear scoring chances but didn't score. The opponent stayed in the game, and it became difficult. I told the players the game would be like this until the end. We need to win games like these by force, and I am proud of the players who did it very well."

Levy also addressed substitutions made in the second half, explaining, "We started the second half poorly and I felt players weren't keeping up with the pace." He mentioned concerns about yellow cards for players like Aziz and Bassam, highlighting the depth of his squad. Responding to fan calls for his resignation, Levy stated, "We have an amazing crowd, we and the players really need the crowd, and they are an important part of us." He expressed confidence in his team's ability to meet their goals, emphasizing the need for a winning streak.

Player Aylon Almog described the win as "like birth pangs, it was difficult and in the end, it's the sweetest." He confirmed Levy's message during substitutions was to "come in and change the game." Regarding fan boos, Almog said, "There is a crowd that loves the team and comes to cheer. It's their right to express emotions, and we need to bring them much joy." He believes in his personal abilities and expects to be a significant part of the season.

Ironi Kiryat Shmona coach Shai Birada expressed frustration, particularly with the officiating, stating, "The refereeing? I prefer not to talk about it, I'll just state a fact, every player's leg was swollen and bloody." He added, "I don't want to sound like a whiner. I'm out of words. Maybe Amado injured himself? They saw there was no penalty, so everything is fine." Birada lamented his team's inability to convert numerous chances, saying, "We played excellently and missed a lot. This is a period where everything is going the wrong way, and we need to know how to stop it." He identified a problem in the attacking third, stating, "We have a problem in the front part and need to admit it and face it. It's not logical that we get a large number of chances and don't score, and in the end, from nothing, you get a penalty."

Daniel Tannenbaum, the losing team's goalkeeper, voiced his disappointment, "We are very disappointed. We are in a difficult period with five losses, and we felt we were there today and in the game, in the end, we conceded a goal from a penalty. This is our story this season, playing well and not bringing points. I believe in my teammates and believe we will get out of this difficult period."