Niv Yehoshua Inspires Hapoel Beersheba to 5-2 Comeback Win Over Maccabi Petah Tikva

Niv Yehoshua starred with a brace against his former club, leading Hapoel Beersheba to a dramatic 5-2 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva and returning the champions to the top of the Premier League table at HaMoshava Stadium. The hosts initially took the lead, but Beersheba fell behind 2-1 by halftime. Head coach Ran Kozuch responded with a quadruple substitution at the break, sparking a remarkable comeback. Igor Zlatanovic leveled from the penalty spot, Yehoshua restored the lead, and late goals from Zahi Ahmed and Adrian Ogrisa wrapped up the 5-2 win.

Reflecting on the match, Kozuch admitted his tactical error in the starting lineup. "I made a mistake with the lineup, as I had major doubts about whether to start the way we did in the second half," Kozuch said. He praised the fans for their unwavering support even when the team was trailing at halftime. Looking ahead to Thursday's UEFA Europa League clash against OFI Crete, Kozuch noted that the team remains focused on picking up points in Europe despite the tough opposition.

Maccabi Petah Tikva coach Ziv Arie expressed frustration over missed chances. "I told the players at halftime that they were playing for compliments rather than to win," Arie noted. Defender Guy Dizent added that the team lost concentration in the second half, allowing Beersheba to punish them immediately.