Beitar Jerusalem remains firmly in the title race after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Hapoel Beersheba at Teddy Stadium, a result that keeps the Southern Reds two points clear at the top with just three games left in the season.

For Beitar, it was a night of soaring highs and crushing lows. Yarden Shua's thunderous 78th-minute strike past Ofir Marciano sent the 30,000 home fans into delirium—finally, after four meetings this season, Barak Itzhaki's squad had taken the lead against their direct title rivals. It was the kind of statement goal that could have propelled them to the top of the table with their destiny in their own hands.

But championship contenders don't fold easily. Just three minutes later, Kings Kangwa pounced on a defensive lapse from Luka Gadrani inside the box, firing past Miguel Silva to silence the stadium. While Ron Kozuk's side couldn't find a winner, the draw was enough to keep Beersheba in the driver's seat, a position they know well after falling just short to Maccabi Tel Aviv last season.

The match itself was a gritty, high-stakes affair—not the prettiest football of the season, but perhaps that's expected when teams are playing every three to four days at this stage. Beersheba controlled the opening 70 minutes, dictating the tempo, before Beitar finally found their rhythm late on. It was rough and tumble, but every side in the championship playoff is dealing with the same grueling schedule.

Elsewhere, Hapoel Tel Aviv secured European qualification for next season with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva, Mor Buskila's 74th-minute winner proving decisive. As the season enters its final stretch, the race for the title—and European spots—remains wide open.