Beitar Jerusalem Struggles Again with Set-Piece Defenses in European Matches

Beitar Jerusalem faced renewed criticism after conceding a goal from a set-piece in their European match against AEK Larnaca on July 30, 2026. The team fell behind following a handball by Boris Ino in the penalty area, which led to a penalty kick. Ino, a defensive midfielder who had shown promise in the previous half-season, was singled out for the costly error. This incident echoes past struggles for Beitar Jerusalem in European competitions, including last season's elimination after conceding three goals from set-pieces against Riga and a heavy 4-1 defeat at Teddy Stadium to PAOK Thessaloniki, which involved a major mistake by Edi Gottlieb. Additionally, striker Jordan Shua missed a penalty in the 42nd minute of the same match that could have leveled the score. The recurring issues with defending set-pieces have drawn significant criticism from fans and media alike.