Hapoel Be'er Sheva Rallies for 2-1 Victory Over Hapoel Jerusalem

Hapoel Be'er Sheva came from behind to defeat Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 on Sunday, thanks to two second-half goals from substitute Igor Zlatanovic. The win came after a challenging match where Be'er Sheva had to overcome an early deficit.

"We need to expect passion from ourselves like we showed in the second half, especially in the final minutes. That comes before the football," said Hapoel Be'er Sheva coach Ran Kozuch after the game. He acknowledged the match became complicated after conceding a goal but praised his team's ability to recover. "The important thing is that we knew how to come back from it," Kozuch added.

Kozuch also addressed the performance of player Aliel, noting it was an off-game for him but expressing confidence in his ability to bounce back. He speculated that fatigue might be a factor, though he believes Aliel's physical condition is good. The coach also mentioned player Ventura, who appeared distressed with a posterior muscle issue, possibly related to previous injuries and exacerbated by travel.

Hapoel Jerusalem coach Lior Zada stated he was satisfied with his team's defensive strategy and overall performance, despite the loss. "Our defensive game was really good in my opinion. I am satisfied with our game, not the result," Zada said. He acknowledged the quality of Hapoel Be'er Sheva's attack and the difficulty in maintaining possession but felt his team was close to earning points. Zada expressed encouragement from the defensive effort, noting the team is improving as they go.

The match was part of the Israeli Premier League. Hapoel Be'er Sheva's victory came after a period of intense play, particularly in the second half, where they demonstrated significant determination to secure the win.