Maccabi Haifa 2-5 Hapoel Beer Sheva: Cohen Hat-Trick Stuns Haifa in Israel Premier League Thriller

Hapoel Beer Sheva delivered a ruthless away performance on Tuesday night, thrashing Maccabi Haifa 5-2 at Sammy Ofer Stadium in one of the standout results of the Israel Premier League season. Eliad Cohen scored a brilliant hat-trick as Beer Sheva punished Haifa’s high defensive line with a clinical counter-attacking display.

The result reshapes the top of the standings and raises serious questions about Haifa’s title credentials. Beer Sheva were sharper, faster, and far more decisive in the final third, turning a tense rivalry match into a statement victory.

Match overview

• Competition: Israel Premier League (Ligat ha’Al)
• Date: Tuesday, 27 October 2026
• Venue: Sammy Ofer Stadium, Haifa
• Result: Maccabi Haifa 2-5 Hapoel Beer Sheva
• Goals: Eliad Cohen 9’, 34’, 67’; Yonatan Bar 23’; Amit Segal 88’ — Lior Azulay 41’; Yossi Malka 72’
• Attendance: 28,416

How the game unfolded

Beer Sheva stunned the home crowd inside nine minutes when Cohen intercepted a loose pass, rounded the goalkeeper, and rolled the ball into an empty net. The visitors doubled their lead in the 23rd minute through Bar’s close-range finish after a swift move down the right. Cohen added his second in the 34th minute, finishing a counterattack with a low drive from the edge of the box.

Haifa finally responded four minutes before half-time when Azulay headed home from a deep cross. The home side pushed forward after the break, but Beer Sheva remained dangerous on every break. Cohen completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute, calmly converting a one-on-one, before Malka pulled one back for Haifa in the 72nd. Segal rounded off the scoring in the 88th minute, tapping in after another rapid transition.

Tactical story

Beer Sheva lined up in a flexible 3-4-2-1 and used aggressive pressing traps to force Haifa into wide areas before winning the ball back. Once in possession, they attacked vertically and targeted the space behind Haifa’s advancing full-backs. Haifa dominated the ball with 58% possession but were repeatedly exposed by Beer Sheva’s speed in transition.

Haifa’s high line was a liability throughout. Beer Sheva’s front three timed their runs well, and the midfield trio consistently found penetrating passes. The visitors also defended their box better in the second half, limiting Haifa to mostly speculative efforts after the hour mark.

Standout performers

Cohen was the obvious headline act, scoring three goals and constantly stretching the Haifa defense. Bar was influential in linking play and scoring the second goal, while Segal’s late cameo capped a dominant team performance. For Haifa, Azulay was the brightest spark, but the home side’s defensive organization collapsed under pressure.

What it means for the table

The win lifts Hapoel Beer Sheva to 24 points from 10 matches, one behind league leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv. Maccabi Haifa remain on 21 points and drop to fourth, with their title hopes now facing a serious test. Beer Sheva will look to maintain momentum in their next fixture, while Haifa must regroup quickly before their upcoming away trip.