Preview:
Maccabi arrived at Bloomfield stadium for the State Cup round of 16 Tel Aviv derby against arch city rivals Hapoel. After the cancelation of the Tel Aviv derby in the league earlier this season following the pyrotechnics display of Hapoel fans, this will be the first encounter between the two sides in two years. The fact Hapoel spent last season in the second division, means that Maccabi’s unbeaten record in derbies now stretches to 4281 days or just short of 12 years.
The last time both teams met in the Cup, Maccabi won the final after extra time to lift the Cup in dramatic style in June 2021.
Hapoel that host the match will have the majority in the stadium and are unbeaten in all of their matches at Bloomfield this season. Zarko Lazetic, who guided his charges to two league victories in succession against Hapoel Jerusalem and Bnei Sakhnin, welcomed back to the squad Dor Peretz and Ali Camara. While Camara was named in the starting line-up and partnered Raz Shlomo in the heart of defense, Peretz was named amongst the substitutes on the bench. Tyrese Asante at right-back and Roy Revivo as Maccabi’s captain on the left, completed the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika.
In midfield, Issouf Sissokho kept his place in the anchorman role and was joined in the engine room by the team’s top scorer Ido Shahar who has 12 goals in all competitions. Kervin Andrade was named by Lazetic at the top of the midfield trio as the young Venezuelan midfielder was given a chance to experience his first Tel Aviv derby. Helio Varela was also making his first derby appearance on one wing while Osher Davida, who previously featured for both clubs in derbies, was named by Lazetic on the opposite flank. Saied Abu Farchi led the line and was also seeking to score on his first ever derby debut.
With Roi Mishpati’s illness added his name to the list of absentees that already includes: Denny Gropper (knee), Ion Nicolaescu (knee) and Kristijan Belic (cheekbone), Lazetic named on his substitutes bench: Yoav Gerafi, Heitor Dos Santos, Sagiv Jehezkel, Yoans Malede, Elad Madmon, Naom Ben Harush, Itamar Noy, Itay Ben Hemo and Dor Peretz.
First Half:
A sea of colour and a wall of noise welcomed both set of players onto the pitch as Maccabi’s visiting sector in the north part of the stadium tried to overcome the numerical disadvantage it had as Hapoel occupied three quarters of the stadium. Two minutes from the start and after a pyrotechnics display of Maccabi and Hapoel fans, the visitors were awarded a free kick but Stav Turiel fired his shot wide. A Maccabi counter attack down the right saw Tyrese Asante released into the box by Osher Davida but the Dutchman’s attempt of a cross was cleared by Hapoel’s defense.
In the 22nd minute Maccabi reached their best chance as Saied Abu Farchi flicked a clever header into the path of Helio Varela who burst forward and unleashed a powerful drive which was punched away by Assaf Tzur.
Two minutes after the half hour mark Abu Farchi’s shot come cross from the right sailed high and wide of the target.
In the 42nd minute Roy Revivo was booked by referee Sapir Berman for a challange on Turiel.
The fourth official signalled two minutes of added time, none of the teams managed to reach any chance. The halftime whistle sent the two sides to warm up and regroup in the dressing rooms.
Second Half:
With no changes to either side at the interval Maccabi returned for the second half determined to score an early goal. Two minutes after the restart Maccabi got their goal as Revivo reacted first to a Hapoel clearance just outside the box as he released Helio Varela. The Cape Verde winger unleashed a left foot low drive that found the bottom corner of Tzur to break the deadlock.
Hapoel were back on level terms in the 54th as Turiel exploited a Revivo slip in the area before burying his shot last Ofek Melika to draw level at 1-1. Tyrese Asante was booked by Berman shortly after as now both of Maccabi’s full-backs carried yellow cards.
Four minutes after the hour mark, Revivo was given his marching orders after being sent off for two bookable offences to leave Maccabi with 10 men for the reminder of the tie.
Lazetic reacted with a triple substitution in the 71st minute as he replaced Ido Shahar, Kervin Andrade and Davida as he introduced Itamar Noy, Sagiv Jehezkel and Elad Madmon. Abu Farchi pushed back to take the place of Revivo at left back while Madmon stepped up to the lone striker’s role.
Jehezkel had an immediate impact as he picked the ball right on the halfway line, butst forward before being fouled by Loizos Loizu who was consequently booked on 75.
Jehezkel was in the thick of things three minutes later as he controlled an Asante through ball and squared across the face of goal. Abu Farchi who ghosted in atbthe far post blasted a shot but Tzur spread himself to save for a corner.
In the 81st minute Jehezkel’s decision making prevented Maccabi from taking the lead as he won possession on the halfway line and raced clear through. But instead of slipping the ball to Madmon who was free on the overlap, opted to try and dribble past another defender and lose possession.
Four minutes later Melika was at full stretch to palm away a powerful dangerous left foot shot from Loizu. Lazetic introduced Dor Peretz for Varela who hobbled off on 89. As the fourth official signalled four minutes off added time Maccabi came close as Abu Farchi’s free kick found Madmon at the far post but his header which beat Tzur was cleared off the line by Fernand Mayembo.
As no goals were scored, the Tel Aviv derby, just like the Cup final of 2021 was sent into extra time.
Extra Time:
The first period of extra time saw Hapoel try and exploit their numerical advantage but neither team managed to create any chances. Just before the second period started Asante who worked tirelessly in defense limped off with a tight calf muscle as he was replaced by Itay Ben Hemo.
A collision between Melika and Mayembo inside Maccabi’s area saw the tall defender limp off to receive medical treatment before returning to the field for the closing stages.
Melika pulled a stunning save to deny Liran Rotman in the 116th minute and keep his goal locked and Maccabi in the tie.
Maccabi’s brave defending during the entire extra time saw the full time whistle send the tie to a penalty shoot out.
Itay Ben Hemo and Ofek Melika were the stars of the penalty shoot out as Maccabi advanced to the State Cup Quarter Finals after beating city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in a dramatic penalty shoot out. Melika saved a crucial penalty from Liran Rotman to take the shoot out to sudden death before Ben Hemo scored the final penalty.
