Maccabi’s players didn’t hide their disappointment after their Toto Cup exit to Maccabi Netanya in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at the 2022/23 curtain raiser.

Goalkeeper Daniel Peretz, who skept his goal locked throughout the 90 minutes, saved a penalty but still ended the tie on the losing end, said: “It is disappointing to reach the penalty shoot-out and lose. This is football. Maccabi Netanya played a good game especially in the first half. We didn’t start the first half well, mainly due to Netanya’s pressure but in the second half we played much better, reached some chances but didn’t convert them”.

With one title now gone, Peretz added ahead of the rest of the campaign: “We obviously want to win the league title as well as the Cup and with regards to Europe we have our first match next week and will try and reach as far as possible in the competition”.