BEERSHEBA (Interstat) — Igor Zlatanovic scored twice in a 20-minute appearance and H. Beer Sheva came from behind to beat Hapoel Jerusalem 2-1 at home on Sunday in a competition match. Hapoel Jerusalem led at halftime after Vitalie Damascan scored in the 35th minute, but H. Beer Sheva answered through Zlatanovic in the 74th minute and went on to secure the win. Zlatanovic’s second goal proved to be the winner. The result kept H. Beer Sheva unbeaten in the competition and handed Hapoel Jerusalem another loss. H. Beer Sheva is the home team and improved its position with the comeback.

Hapoel Jerusalem opened the scoring when Damascan finished in the 35th minute. Christ Tiehi provided the assist on the play. Tiehi’s assist came on Damascan’s opening goal. Damascan, who played 63 minutes, was substituted in the 63rd minute. Hapoel Jerusalem held the lead until the 74th minute, when Zlatanovic scored for H. Beer Sheva. Zlatanovic, who played 20 minutes, scored twice in the match, including the 74th-minute goal. His two-goal performance was the most important part of the game for H. Beer Sheva, which needed a response after falling behind. Zlatanovic’s goals came in a short stint and changed the match after Hapoel Jerusalem had controlled the early advantage.

The match became more physical in the second half. Nadir O. of Hapoel Jerusalem received a yellow card in the 72nd minute and was sent off in the 82nd minute. Idoko A. of Hapoel Jerusalem was booked in the 77th minute. In the 85th minute, H. Beer Sheva’s Davidzada O. and Ugarriza A. received yellow cards, and Hapoel Jerusalem’s Agvadish O. was also booked. The red card left Hapoel Jerusalem with 10 men for the closing stretch as H. Beer Sheva protected its advantage. Hapoel Jerusalem had to adjust after the sending off, and H. Beer Sheva used the extra space to close out the match.

H. Beer Sheva improved to 4 wins, no losses and one draw in the competition, and to 4 wins, one loss and one draw across all competitions. Hapoel Jerusalem fell to 0 wins and 2 losses in the competition and 0 wins and 2 losses across all competitions. Hapoel Jerusalem had lost 4-1 at home to Maccabi Haifa in its previous competition match. H. Beer Sheva had lost 2-1 at AZ Alkmaar in its previous match across all competitions. H. Beer Sheva’s recent form also included a 2-0 win at Ironi Tiberias, a 1-0 home win over Kiryat Shmona, a 2-2 home draw with Hp Haifa and a 2-1 win at Hap. Ramat Gan.

H. Beer Sheva made several changes during the match. Abu Rumi M. and Peretz E. entered at halftime, Lucas Ventura came on in the 53rd minute, and Kanaan H. entered in the 70th minute. Ugarriza A. was substituted in the 90th minute plus six. Hapoel Jerusalem brought on Warsana N. in the 73rd minute and Madmon I. and Idoko A. in the 79th minute. Damascan was replaced in the 63rd minute after scoring Hapoel Jerusalem’s goal. The substitutions helped H. Beer Sheva maintain pressure and protect the lead. Hapoel Jerusalem used its substitutions to search for an equalizer, but the visitors could not find a response. H. Beer Sheva is next scheduled to visit Mb Haifa in Ligat ha’Al. H. Beer Sheva closed out the win.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of H. Beer Sheva 1, Hapoel Jerusalem 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Hapoel Jerusalem with a 59.5 percent probability to win. H. Beer Sheva had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5.