Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Hapoel Haifa shared the spoils in a one-nil win converted to a draw at the end. The Ligat Ha'Al opener finished 2:2 after Naor Sabag converted a penalty in the ninety-sixth minute. Be'er Sheva had taken the lead twice through Eilel Peretz and Javon East, only to surrender both advantages.
Peretz opened the scoring in the twenty-fourth minute, giving the hosts momentum they carried into half-time. Both sides made changes at the break, with Wahib Habiballa and Liran Rotman coming on for Be'er Sheva. Turgeman equalised five minutes after the restart, moving the game back to level terms and shifting the dressing-room atmosphere.
East restored Be'er Sheva's lead in the sixty-sixth minute, capitalising on a chance that many thought the visitors would not get. Haifa's momentum stalled after Idan Nachmias had a penalty cancelled by VAR in the eighty-third minute. Matan Ambar's red card in the eighty-fourth minute meant the visitors had to defend a numerical disadvantage for the final five minutes.
And here's the thing about football — you can dominate possession and still find yourself chasing the result. Be'er Sheva enjoyed sixty-four per cent of the ball and registered sixteen shots, six on target. Haifa managed only three shots with one on target, but Sabag's penalty meant they did not leave empty-handed. To be fair, the visitors made their singular opportunity count when it mattered.
The statistics tell a story of control without conversion. Be'er Sheva completed 470 of 540 passes and created chances in abundance, yet Haifa's goalkeeper made four saves from their limited attempts. The red card changed the complexion of the game, forcing Haifa to dig in rather than chase a winner. By then, the momentum had shifted enough for a late equaliser to feel inevitable.
Be'er Sheva sit fifth in the table with three points from one match, having beaten Hapoel Ramat-Gan 2:1 in their previous outing. Haifa occupy ninth place with a single point, having shared a goalless draw with Hapoel Tel-Aviv. Both teams have played once, but the result suggests a season where home advantage may not guarantee victory.
