Hapoel Raanana Women 1-4 Hapoel Jerusalem Women: Clinical Jerusalem seal dominant away win

Hapoel Jerusalem Women delivered a statement performance in the Israel Women’s First National on 17 September 2026, defeating Hapoel Raanana Women 4-1. The visitors were sharper in the final third, more aggressive in midfield and ruthless on the counter, turning a competitive opening period into a convincing victory.

Hapoel Raanana Women had moments of promise, especially when they equalised in the first half, but they could not live with Jerusalem’s speed and precision after the break. The three points strengthen Hapoel Jerusalem Women’s position in the upper half of the table and underline their credentials as one of the division’s most dangerous attacking sides.

Match overview

The match began with both teams looking to press high, but Hapoel Jerusalem Women quickly established control. Their midfield trio rotated well, creating passing lanes and forcing Raanana to defend deep. Jerusalem’s first goal came from a well-rehearsed set-piece routine, setting the tone for a dominant away display.

Raanana responded with energy and found an equaliser through a quick transition, but Jerusalem restored their lead before half-time. From there, the visitors managed the game expertly, adding two more goals in the second half as Raanana’s resistance faded.

Key moments

Hapoel Jerusalem Women opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Noa Levi timed her run perfectly to meet a low cross and finish first-time. Raanana equalised in the 31st minute through Yael Dahan, who capitalised on a defensive mix-up and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper.

The response was immediate. In the 42nd minute, Shira Mizrahi restored Jerusalem’s lead with a driven shot from the edge of the box. Early in the second half, Levi struck again, finishing a swift counter-attack to make it 3-1. The fourth goal arrived in the 74th minute when Tamar Azulay headed home from a corner, sealing a comprehensive win.

Tactical story

Hapoel Jerusalem Women used a high press to disrupt Raanana’s build-up, forcing errors in midfield and creating repeated turnovers in dangerous areas. Their wide players stretched the pitch, while the front three combined with sharp one-touch passing. Defensively, Jerusalem’s back line stepped up aggressively to catch Raanana offside and limit space behind.

Raanana’s equaliser came from their best spell of the match, when they bypassed the press with direct passes. But they struggled to sustain pressure because Jerusalem’s midfield regained control quickly. The visitors’ substitutions also made an impact, adding fresh legs and maintaining the intensity until the final whistle.

Standout players

• Noa Levi (Hapoel Jerusalem Women): Scored twice and was a constant threat with her movement and finishing.
• Shira Mizrahi (Hapoel Jerusalem Women): Controlled the tempo in midfield and scored a crucial goal before half-time.
• Tamar Azulay (Hapoel Jerusalem Women): Added a goal and won several aerial duels from set-pieces.
• Yael Dahan (Hapoel Raanana Women): Took her goal well and was her team’s most lively attacker.

Table impact

The 4-1 win gives Hapoel Jerusalem Women a significant boost in the Israel Women’s First National standings. It improves their goal difference and sends a clear message to their rivals. For Hapoel Raanana Women, the defeat is a setback that leaves them needing to tighten up defensively in the coming weeks.

Jerusalem will look to build on this performance in their next fixture, while Raanana must regroup and address the gaps that appeared after half-time.