There’s nothing better than going on a sports road trip in Israel, especially when one is heading to a “Match of the Season” type of experience.
No matter which of two most popular sports in the country – soccer or basketball – a big game is a big game and that was no doubt the case with Hapoel Beersheba hosting Beitar Jerusalem this weekend.
A top-of-the-table clash, in the championship playoffs no less, where the league title will go to one of the teams when the campaign comes to an enticing end. First place against second place, the Southern Reds versus the yellow-and-black at Turner Stadium in the desert capital, where the winner will be atop the table to set up well for the stretch run.
While the game ended up in a 2-2 draw, the match provided so many ups and downs along with excitement galore. But the story of this contest began way before Igor Zlatanovic scored a brace for Beersheba, and Omer Atzili, along with Timoti Muzie, found the equalizers for Jerusalem late in the game to split the points.
Both teams held pre-match press conferences on Thursday morning, where their respective coaches, Beersheba’s Ron Kozuk and Beitar’s Barak Itzhaki, gave nothing away, although it seemed that neither side would want to risk a loss, especially Beitar, which would put it five points behind in the race.
Flares, fireworks on the festive Friday
Regardless of what was said prior to kickoff, the tension and pressure were in the air as the Beitar faithful came in the hundreds with flares, fireworks, and song to the club’s training facility in Bayit Vegan, right next to Shaare Tzedek hospital on Friday for the final practice session before the match. The supporters arrived in large numbers because there would be no fans allowed at the game itself due to a penalty imposed by the Israel Football Association – or at least that was the plan.
As Shabbat approached, it was time to head to the local Beersheba hotel and check in with the thought that maybe, just maybe, there would be some sort of Beitar presence before kickoff on Saturday night. There was a synagogue inside the hotel, something most large chains across the country have, and as everyone settled into their seats with the melodies associated with the Friday night service, in walked a pair of Shabbat brides, so to speak, in Beitar midfielders Ziv Ben Shimol and Yarin Levy.
As Ben Shimol and Levy both walked into the synagogue, the lovely melodies turned into Jerusalem soccer songs to the delight of the congregants. The clapping and singing got louder and louder as the beat was raised to a fever pitch with everyone packed into the shul singing in unison with smiles on their faces, including some Beitar fans who would make their way to the game despite the official ban.
On Shabbat day, the Beitar fans were gearing up for the game at night with stories and plenty of talk about how their club could win and stun the hosts, as only a few would be able to see their heroes live at Turner Stadium. The morning service and Kiddush was festive with even more song and cheers as word began to circulate that the entire team would be arriving at the hotel for lunch and the Mincha afternoon prayer.
Just before 2 p.m. the team coach pulled up and the Jewish players went directly to the synagogue where they met up with their teammates Ben Shimol and Levy as the pair each were called up to the Torah ahead of the big game. Next was lunch, rest, video and off to the stadium as the fans gathered at the hotel gave them a rousing send off as their team went to do battle to write yet another incredible chapter to this fantastic season.
The Southern Reds kept applying suffocating pressure at the outset, and Abu Romi gave Igor Zlatanovic a perfect through-ball as the striker easily slotted home the opening goal of the game to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute.
Zlatanovic wasn’t done yet as he then took an Eliel Peretz pass and scored his 12th goal of the season at the stroke of halftime to send Beersheba into the break with a commanding 2-0 advantage.
The yellow-and-black looked to get back into the game as the second half began, and it did just that as Atzily scored from close thanks to a tremendous effort and assist by Johnbosco Kalu to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
Beersheba began to freshen up its lineup with wholesale substitutions, and it seemed that the visitors’ hopes were dashed when Boris Enow was issued his second yellow card and shown red, leaving Beitar with just 10 men for the balance.
However, that didn’t matter on this night as Muzie smashed home a loose ball in the box to knot the game up as time ran down to end the match in a draw and keep Beitar’s title hopes alive. There will be another “Match of the Season” next month between the clubs, but this time in Jerusalem with 30,000 rabid fans ready to take home the championship.
See more Israeli sports coverage at www.sportsrabbi.com/en
Source:
www.jpost.com
