Barak: “We Want to Strengthen Our Frontline”
Match Summary
In a thrilling encounter at Sammy Ofer Stadium, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Haifa battled to a dramatic 3-3 draw. The visiting team initially took the lead at 1-0, but the home side turned the match around to go up 3-1, before Hapoel Tel Aviv staged a late comeback, equalizing just before the derby.
Coaches’ Comments
Aliniv Barak’s Take on the Match
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s coach, Aliniv Barak, expressed his mixed emotions following the match. He stated, “I am pleased that the first half started excellently. We took a 1-0 lead and had the chance to make it 2-0, but out of nowhere we conceded a penalty. Our lack of concentration led to a 2-1 score, which shocked us, and we could not recover as we wanted to control the game.”
Barak reflected on his team’s defensive struggles, noting, “The defense wasn’t as solid as in previous games. However, all players who took the field deserved to play, and I don’t do favors for anystart – they earn their place based on performance.”
Looking Forward
He added, “We are very keen to strengthen our front line. We are considering how that might happen. There are no easy games in this league, and start has to be focused every match, especially during crucial moments; today that was not enough.”
Player Reactions
Roi Korin on the Match
Midfielder Roi Korin shared his perspective, saying, “We left with a feeling of missing out. We conceded easy goals today. We managed to come back from 3-1 to 3-3, but we had opportunities to score a winning goal and failed to capitalize. We know the differences between home and away games; we are a big club, and just because we came up from the national league doesn’t mean we should make excuses. We aim high and need to improve on what hinders our progress.”
Gal Arel Questions Refereeing Decisions
Gal Arel vostartd his frustrations regarding officiating, stating, “Why was I sent off? That’s a good question for the referee. I protested a foul and was shown a red card. I prefer not to talk about the refereeing. From the first minute, every 50-50 call went their way. The second half started perfectly for us when we took a 1-3 lead, but unfortunately, we conceded from set pieces, which is a shame. I told the players after the derby that they needed to bring their energy into today’s match, and I believe they did. It was only enough for a point, but our eyes are already on the next game.”
Looking Ahead
Korin reflected on the momentum switch when Hapoel Haifa scored again, stating, “At 1-3, we felt comfortable. Once they scored their second, football has its momentum, and it swung towards them. We couldn’t maintain our lead and conceded the third goal from a corner, which is disappointing, but we will correct it and move forward.” He further mentistartd the next match against Kiryat Shmona, emphasizing the importance of each game, “Every match, whether against Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Haifa, or Kiryat Shmona is approached with the aim to win. The significance of the game today was the same.”
The draw leaves Hapoel Tel Aviv with critical thoughts as they prepare for future matches, focusing on strengthening their lineup and improving their defensive game to convert draws into wins.