Motherwell pay heavy penalty as Gallagher sees red in Israel
De clan Gallagher was booked twice inside 60 seconds as Mother well fell to a 3- 0 Europa League defeat against Hapoel B eer-sheva in Israel.
Mother well looked comfortable for the vast majority of the first half and Christo - pher Long forced a good save before Miguel Vitor opened the scoring with a free header from a set-piece two minutes before the interval.
Gallagher, pictured, headed over from a good chance before he was penalised while competing in the air at a free-kick he had just given away. Gallagher then conceded a penalty, which earned him his marching orders and Josue slotted home to make it 2- 0. Hapoel’s man advantage told and Elton Acolatse added a third with seven minutes left.
Mother well had travelled to locked-down Is rael with confidence after beating Aberdeen 3-0 at Pittodrie on Sunday and they quickly settled into the game and had their fair share of possession.
Stephen Robinson’ s side had an early handball appeal when Allan Campbell’s cross appeared to hit an arm, but it was by the Hapoel player’s side.
Mother well had the first chance midway through the half when Long collected Tony Watt’ s low cross, turned his man and fired a good effort that was pushed wide by the home goalkeeper.
Trevor Carson turned past an ambitious effort by Dutch winger Acolatse but Motherwell, with Nathan Mcginley in for the suspended Be vis Mugabi in a back three, were otherwise keeping their hosts at arm’s length.
The visitors had a no ther chance when Stephen O’donnell’s long throw fell for Watt but the striker could not connect properly. Their first-half efforts were undone after Long conceded a free -kick 40 yards out on Hapoel’s right flank. Jo sue swung in the freekick and Vitor headed home from six yards. There was a major flash - point moments later after Loai Taha charged into Watt after being caught slightly late by the striker. The Ukrainian referee took the easy option of showing both men a yellow card.
Mother well had a let-off early in the second half when Mcginley appeared to trip Acolatse in the box.
The visitors began to threaten from set-pieces. Mark O’hara had a header saved and the unmarked Gallagher headed over from a better chance.
Well were taking chances at the back and Liam Grimshaw came toMcG in ley’ s rescue with a brilliant block before Gaetan Varenne fired just wide from 25 yards.
All hopes were ext ingui shed when Gallagher was booked for chop ping down A col at se and then shown another yellow card after being adjudged to have pulled down Vitor as Josue fired in the resulting freekick. The latter sent Carson the wrong way from the spot.
A col at se compounded Mother well’s miser y when he fired into the corner after Mcginley had dived into a rash challenge.
HAPOEL: Levita, Miguel Vitor, Bareiro, Goldberg, Dadia, Josue, Acolatse (Yosefi 87), Kabah, Taha, Sallalich (Cesar Meli 87), Agudelo (Varenne 60). Subs not used: Rahamim, Tzedek, Shwiro, Hatuel.
MOTHERWELL: Carson, Lamie, Grimshaw, Campbell, Mcginley, Gallagher, O’donnell, Long (Lang 73), O’hara, Watt (White 76), Polworth (Maguire 87). Subs not used: P Morrison, Hastie, Cornelius, Seedorf.