Dutch-Ghanaian defender Tyrese Asante showed his playmaking ability, earning his first assist of the season, but it wasn’t enough as Maccabi Tel Aviv fell 3-1 to Beitar Jerusalem on Monday in the Ligat HaAl Championship Group.
The 23-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes, set up Osher Davida’s 84th-minute strike, which briefly gave Maccabi a glimmer of hope after they had been two goals down. However, Beitar’s Mayron George and Jean Marcelin each found the back of the net before Maccabi’s late effort, and a curling strike from Yarin Levi deep into stoppage time sealed the win for the hosts.
A Slow Start for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv came into the match against Beitar Jerusalem hoping to close the gap in the Championship Group. However, their hopes were quickly dashed as Beitar took control of the game. The first 45 minutes saw little in terms of goals, but Beitar’s dominance was clear. Maccabi struggled to get a foothold in the match, especially in the midfield, where Beitar’s pressing game created problems for the visitors.
The second half began with a sharp move from Beitar. Mayron George opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, sending a low drive into the corner of the net. It was a goal that seemed to lift the spirits of the home team, and they capitalized on that momentum.
A Glimmer of Hope for Maccabi
Maccabi Tel Aviv responded with a bit of urgency after going 2-0 down, but their efforts were often met with Beitar’s solid defensive shape. In the 66th minute, Beitar’s Jean Marcelin doubled the advantage, heading in from a well-executed corner kick that caught the Maccabi defense napping.
However, just when it seemed like Maccabi was down for the count, Tyrese Asante came through. The 23-year-old’s perfectly timed assist in the 84th minute sent Osher Davida into the box, where he slotted home from a tight angle. It was a moment of brilliance from Asante, who, despite the loss, proved his capability in the final third.
Beitar’s Commanding Finish
With the score at 2-1, Maccabi tried to rally, but Beitar’s defense stood firm. The visitors’ efforts to find an equalizer were frustrated by Beitar’s well-organized backline, with goalkeeper Ariel Harush making crucial saves. In the dying moments of the game, Yarin Levi sealed the victory for Beitar with a stunning curling effort into the top corner of the net during stoppage time.
The 3-1 victory narrowed the head-to-head gap between the two teams, bringing the tally to 13 wins for Beitar, 21 for Maccabi, and 11 draws. Despite the loss, Maccabi will look to regroup and bounce back in their next match against Hapoel Haifa on April 26th.
Maccabi Tel Aviv Looks Ahead
While this defeat stings, especially with Maccabi’s promising start to the season, the team will need to stay focused on their upcoming fixtures. The goal now is to learn from this loss and recover quickly, with crucial points at stake as they continue their push for a high finish in the Championship Group.
Tyrese Asante, for his part, will be disappointed by the result but can take pride in his individual performance. His assist highlighted his quality in attack, and if he can continue to contribute in this manner, Maccabi Tel Aviv may still have a chance to turn their season around.
