I wrote this a few minutes after the game ended, so everything is fresh in my mind. I will go by chronological order.

Two years ago Beit She'an played against Beitar in the 2nd half of the season. Beit She'an was the home team, but the TV wanted to show the game. Since Beit She'an's ground didn't have lights, the game was moved to Kiriat Eliezer (Haifa). Beitar scored first and Beit She'an equalized, both within the first 10 minutes. Beitar scored again after about 60 minutes. In the last minute Eitan Tayeb shot from 30 meters out and scored.

On December 28, 1997 there was a friendly between a team combined of Hapoel and Maccabi Haifa players and AC Milan. The game ended 1-1 and went to penalties. Srdjan Culkovic (then with Hapoel Haifa) was to shoot. Instead of shooting normally, he tried some fancy chip and missed.

This year (today) the same situation. The only difference was that the police refused Beit She'an permission to play at their home ground. Beitar needed 3 points to stay 1 point ahead of Hapoel Tel Aviv with 1 round left. Beit She'an needed the points to stay in the league. But, Beer Sheva and Bnei Yehuda lost, so the game meant nothing to Beit She'an.

The game started. Beit She'an pressed at the beginning and after 3 minutes went ahead. Zedko Adic's shot was deflected in. From then on, Beitar did most of the pressing, but nothing too dangerous. Around the 30th minute Beit She'an had a breakaway. Shim'on Danan passed the 'keeper, Kornfine, and curved the ball towards goal. Shmulik Levi cleared the ball with his head, but unfortunately for him, onto his hand. He was sent off and Beit She'an were awarded a penalty. Eitan Tayeb hadn't missed a penalty all season (5/5). I was 100% sure he was going to miss. Sure enough, the shot was way off target.

In the 45th minute, a Beitar cross was met by Istvan Salloi who scored. Meir Cohen's jump for the ball was flaccid. He has done it 3 times in the last 3 games.

The 2nd half started with pressure from Beitar. After 62 minutes Abuksis was fouled in the rainbow behind the penalty area. He shot a beautiful one into the corner of the net. Afterwards Beit She'an had more possesion, but didn't get anything dangerous. I began to get the feeling of two years ago.

Yep, you guessed it. 2-2. Beit She'an's most anonymous player, Almog Hazan got a great pass and from 20 meters out struck the ball cleanly with his 1st touch.
After that it was all downhill. Beitar had all the possesion. Beit She'an didn't leave their 16 yard box. When they did, instead of of byeing time and then kicking the ball away, they byed time and lost possesion. Every time that happened, Beitar set up a player against an empty net, and every time they missed. A goal was in the air. In the 90th minute Panchuildze got clear and sent a great pass across to Culkovic. Instead of shooting low and hard, he tried to chip Kornfine. Sound familiar? Kornfine caught it easily. Beitar went for a last chance and got a corner. Abuksis crossed high, Kornfine (who crossed the field for the corner) shot, Cohen saved it right to Pisont and he scored. That was it, Beitar's crowd rushed into the field and wouldn't allow the referee to continue the game. It ended.

A few conclusions can be drawn about Beit She'an. First of all, they have a big mentality problem. When Beitar pressed before their first 2 goals, the team played incorrectly. Instead of trying to create something against 10 men, they asked Beitar to score. In the end, they payed for it. After the 2-2, instead of playing all out defense (bunker), they tried to win. And the players who were on defense didn't give all they had. The third goal was a forgone conclusion.
This brings us to the coach, Elisha Levi. He must have some part in what I just mentioned. The team just didn't play tactically correct and lost because of it. Just because Beer Sheva and Bnei Yehuda lost doesn't mean that "so can we." Another worrying fact is fitness. Since they have been in the first division, it has been a problem. After about 70 minutes, the players disinigrate. What is wrong with the fitness coach?

The last comment is about Beitar's fans rushing onto the field. That is in my Letter from the editor.

I will end on an optimistic note. Beit She'an were not worse than the country's best team (Excuse me, Hapoel Tel Aviv) and secured another season in the Liga Leumit