Ironi Kiryat Shmona beat Ironi Tivериаda 2:0 in the second round of the Ligat ha-Аль on Saturday evening. The hosts took all three points at home, moving them into fourth place with three points from two games. to be fair, the result felt inevitable after the opening salvo.
A. Sagna opened the scoring in the 31st minute, giving the home side the lead they would not relinquish. R. Abdullazada doubled the advantage with a second goal in the 72nd minute, and by then the tie was effectively over. The visitors had no answer for the pressure, and here's the thing — they rarely did all evening.
Ironi Kiryat Shmona controlled 58 per cent of possession but their finishing told the real story. They registered six shots on target against three for the visitors, while expected goals stood at 1.56 to 0.82. Big chances created tells you more — two for the home side, none for the visitors. by then, the gap in quality was visible.
Discipline was mixed throughout. Ironi Kiryat Shmona picked up three yellow cards, including one each for R. Abdullazada and A. Sagna, while the visitors received two for Talles Costa and G. Maatuk. Substitutions came thick and fast after the hour mark, with six changes between the 59th and 78th minutes as both managers reshuffled.
The visitors sit 14th on minus two points, a position that reflects their early struggles. Ironi Kiryat Shmona, meanwhile, have bounced back from their opening defeat to Makabi Petah Tikva with this professional display. and here's the thing — it is only two games in, but you can tell who wants it more.