The weighing of the results yesterday (Saturday) brought Beitar Jerusalem to a situation where they will probably have to win their two remaining games, against Hapoel Tel Aviv in Teddy and against Sakhnin in Doha, in order to finish the season in the top playoffs. In a certain situation, even two victories may not be enough (All this if Maccabi Netanya gets a point next week against Kiryat Shmona, and Hapoel Jerusalem, who will play tonight, wins two of the three remaining games, while at the same time Ashdod wins both games.) But still, realistically, two wins should be enough.
Beitar did not look for excuses at the end of the 2:1 loss to Maccabi Haifa, but they were very angry with referee Gal Leibovich and Dolev Haziza. About Leibovich they said in the club: “A cowardly referee, he whistled according to the shouts of the crowd. Haifa was given a penalty, and if not the VAR also confirms an invalid goal. He also ignored the penalty on Asperia until the VAR called him, and in fact he made a mistake with three goal whistles to our detriment, which is unimaginable. All borderline whistles were in favor of Maccabi Haifa. Morozov received two yellows for minors and a firecracker that earned him four yellows, he received nothing, neither did Sondgren, who put a foot in Asperia.”
Beitar added: “Haifa does not need a referee and does not need provocations to win, it was better throughout most of the minutes of the game, but if we are in the game, we deserve to finish it with 11 players.” Nor was Morozov’s first yellow. The game just got more and more complicated because of refereeing errors, and it shouldn’t be that way. It’s just a shame.”
The professional team does not intend to punish Giorgi Morozov, but admitted that “he should have been smarter, maybe we should have prepared him for all the provocations”. Morozov himself told the players: “He started with me, I barely touched him and he put on a show like a little boy.” Satisfaction was registered with the goalkeeper Miguel Silva, who demonstrated high ability. “If he had been with us from the beginning of the season, we would have guaranteed a place in the top playoffs a long time ago. We paid a very high price for the goalie position,” Beitar said.
Danilo Asperia, who refused to pick up a corner kick due to the growls heard at him, turned to referee Leibovitch, who made it clear to the midfielder that the things would be recorded in the match report.
Now in Beitar Jerusalem they will wait for the result of Hapoel Jerusalem’s game tonight against Hapoel Haifa, in the hope that Roni Levy’s team will not return empty-handed from Teddy. At the same time, they will begin to prepare for a busy week that will include games in the cup against Hapoel Afula on Wednesday and against Hapoel Tel Aviv in Teddy on Sunday, which they are expected to attend About 20,000 Teddy fans (this morning all the tickets for the eastern stand sold out within half an hour). Aboksis intends to share quite a few substitutes in the cup and get Fred Friday more involved.
Watch the summary: Hapoel Tel Aviv – MS. Ashdod 2:1
Watch the summary: Section Nes Ziona – Maccabi Tel Aviv 2:0
Watch the summary: Bnei Sakhnin – Ironi Kiryat Shmona 3:1
Watch the summary: Maccabi Netanya – Hapoel Hadera 0:1
“Friends, I want to thank you for the support,” Morozov wrote on his Instagram account. “Sorry for the suspension, and I know it disappointed the team. We have two important games ahead of us, and we need your support. Come on Beitar!”