Beitar Jerusalem Draws 2-2 in First Preseason Match Against Bulgarian Club Botev Vratsa

Beitar Jerusalem kicked off their preseason preparations with a 2-2 draw against Botev Vratsa, a Bulgarian top-division team that finished ninth last season. The match took place on Friday during the club's training camp in Bulgaria. This game marked Beitar's first friendly ahead of their official season opener on July 18, when they will host Hapoel Tel Aviv in Netanya.

Following the surprising appointment of Almog Cohen as head coach after parting ways with Barak Itzhaki, Beitar debuted new signings Eugene Ansah and Noam Mocha in the starting lineup. Sean Weisman, another high-profile signing, is expected to join the camp in the coming days. The squad also featured Daniel Vorko and Tomer Yossefi on the bench. Beitar plans another friendly on Tuesday against Arda Kardzhali, who finished sixth in Bulgaria's league.

The match saw an early goal by Yarden Shua assisting Timo Muzi in the 7th minute. Botev Vratsa equalized in the 14th minute through Martin Petkov after capitalizing on a defensive error. Petkov then scored a penalty in the 27th minute to put Botev ahead 2-1. Just before halftime, Eugene Ansah leveled the score again with a precise shot after a pass from Shua. The second half included several chances but no further goals, with Beitar's substitute goalkeeper making key saves.

The lineups featured notable players such as Miguel Silva, Roi Elimelech, Brian Carvalho, and others, with substitutions made at halftime. The match served as an important step in integrating new players and testing tactics ahead of the competitive season.