MIGDAL HAEMEK, Israel (Interstat) — H. Migdal HaEmek held off Beit Shean 2-1 on Monday, getting goals from H. Mohamed and Almog Boim in a home victory. The match turned on a quick start by the hosts and a second-half response after Beit Shean had pulled level. The home side scored first, conceded an equalizer and then regained the lead after the break.

H. Migdal HaEmek opened the scoring in the ninth minute when H. Mohamed found the net. Beit Shean responded in the 30th minute through Rami Tahaish, sending the teams into the break level. The home side regained the lead in the 54th minute when Almog Boim scored, and H. Migdal HaEmek protected that advantage the rest of the way. Beit Shean pushed for a second equalizer but could not find another goal. The sequence left H. Migdal HaEmek ahead after 54 minutes, and neither side scored again.

Rami Tahaish of Beit Shean played the full 90 minutes and scored once. H. Mohamed of H. Migdal HaEmek also played 90 minutes and scored once, and Almog Boim of H. Migdal HaEmek played 90 minutes and scored once. The goals from Mohamed and Boim proved enough for the home side. Mohamed struck early, Tahaish leveled for the visitors, and Boim delivered the decisive goal after halftime. Tahaish, Mohamed and Boim were the only scorers in the match.

Beit Shean’s season record in this competition is now 4 wins, 1 loss and 3 draws. H. Migdal HaEmek’s season record in this competition is now 4 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Beit Shean’s record across all competitions is also 4 wins, 1 loss and 3 draws, while H. Migdal HaEmek’s record across all competitions is 4 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Both records reflect the same marks in this competition and across all competitions.

Beit Shean entered the match after a 2-0 win at Nahariya, a 1-1 draw with Hapoel Karmiel and a 1-1 draw with Nof Hagalil. Earlier in the season, Beit Shean had a 4-0 win at Hapoel Tirat Karmel, a 0-0 draw at Tzeirey Um El Fahem and a 2-1 home win over Ironi Baka. H. Migdal HaEmek entered after a 2-1 home win over Ironi Baka, a 1-1 draw at Hapoel Ihud Bnei Jatt and a 1-0 home win over Tzeirey Tamra.

H. Migdal HaEmek’s previous home results in the competition included wins over Ironi Baka and Tzeirey Tamra. Beit Shean had won at Nahariya and at Hapoel Tirat Karmel before the loss, while also earning draws against Hapoel Karmiel, Nof Hagalil and Tzeirey Um El Fahem. Beit Shean also beat Ironi Baka at home earlier in the season. The visitors’ lone goal Monday came from Tahaish, whose 30th-minute finish briefly brought the match back to level terms. Tahaish’s goal was the only scoring play for Beit Shean.

H. Migdal HaEmek’s defense then held through the final half-hour after Boim’s goal. Beit Shean could not produce a second equalizer, and the home side saw out the result. The match was H. Migdal HaEmek’s fourth win in the competition and kept its record without a loss. Beit Shean absorbed its first loss in the competition after a run that included four wins and three draws. The final whistle confirmed H. Migdal HaEmek’s fourth win in this competition and Beit Shean’s first loss.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of H. Migdal HaEmek 2, Beit Shean 1. Interstat’s ELO system had given H. Migdal HaEmek a 70.9 percent probability to win, and H. Migdal HaEmek was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.5.