Tel Aviv Clubs Win Big as Coaches’ Calls Shape Games

Hapoel Tel Aviv beat Hapoel Jerusalem 3-0 at Teddy Stadium in front of 7,000 supporters during the latest round of Israeli Premier League action. Maccabi Tel Aviv also claimed a convincing win, beating Hapoel Haifa 6-2. In both matches, coaches discussed tactical changes, substitutions and spells when their teams lost control.

Halftime changes, goals after the break

Hapoel Tel Aviv struck just before halftime. Daniel Dappa finished a through ball from Douglas Owusu, then dribbled past a defender inside the box. Yannick Leliendal set up Omri Altman with a backheel for the 53rd-minute goal that made it 2-0. Substitute Roie Alkukin added a third less than 10 minutes later, converting a Leliendal cross.

Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Elyaniv Barda said his side “weren't good enough in the first half and didn't control the tempo enough.” The team struggled until halftime adjustments, he said, and bringing on Alkukin helped too. Barda called the second and third goals “incredible attacking sequences,” built on passing and movement.

Hapoel Jerusalem coach Lior Zada said his team controlled the tempo during good spells in the first half, but gave up “a very soft goal” at the end of it. “It was a tough game, but we need to work hard to get results,” Zada said. “We're conceding too many goals, although we're also playing many of our games against top teams with a lot of quality.”

Noam Ben Harush assisted Elad Madmon as Maccabi Tel Aviv took the lead against Hapoel Haifa. Arial Mendy equalized in the 38th minute, sending the teams into halftime level at 1-1. Ali Camara restored Maccabi’s lead with a header from a corner. Dor Peretz made it 3-1 in the 58th minute, and Sagiv Yehezkel scored again shortly afterward.

Alon Turgeman scored for Hapoel Haifa in the 72nd minute. Camara completed his brace, then Itamar Noy scored Maccabi’s sixth from inside the box.

Wins, setbacks and the coaches’ verdicts

Maccabi Tel Aviv coach Kenny Miller said his team had created chances before scoring, but still had work to do. “We can't give the opposition hope at any stage of the game,” he said. “I'm very pleased with the result. We scored goals, but there's still plenty of room for improvement.” Haim Silvas, Hapoel Haifa’s coach, said his team entered the game determined to show it was a good team, but “there was a kind of collapse” after Maccabi scored from a second-half set piece. Maccabi raised the tempo and scored again while Hapoel Haifa was still stunned, Silvas said.

Sana Gomes scored in the 40th minute as Bnei Sakhnin beat Kiryat Shmona 1-0. Sakhnin coach Yossi Abukasis said his team created four or five clear-cut chances, but described the performance as less than great. Kiryat Shmona coach Shai Barda said the team had collected three points from its first eight games and struggled with confidence.

Ironi Tiberias and Maccabi Netanya drew 1-1. Oz Bilu put Netanya ahead in the first half, but Bar Cohen equalized for the hosts in the 92nd minute. Netanya coach Roni Levy called the late concession irresponsible and said his team’s mentality “probably isn't good enough.”

Jose Cortes scored twice in the first half as Maccabi Petah Tikva beat Hapoel Ramat Gan 2-1. Luan Campos scored after halftime, but Ziv Arie's side held on, ending a five-game losing streak. Petah Tikva coach Arie said the team hadn't played as it wanted in the second half, but would take the win after five losses.