State Cup holders Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at Turner stadium for the Super Cup match against reigning champions Hapoel Be’ersheva which will raise the curtain on the 2026/27 campaign. Eight weeks after beating Be’ersheva 2-1 in the State Cup Final at Teddy stadium, Maccabi return to the stadium they conceded the league title only a few days earlier after suffering a 4-2 defeat. The incidents at the end of the Cup Final led to the suspensions of several Be’ersheva players but more importantly Tyrese Asante, Elad Madmon, Kristijan Belic, Kervin Andrade and Team Manager Yoav Ziv.
Without those players, Maccabi Head Coach Kenny Miller, who was also missing Cape Verde international Helio Varela who was given extra time off due to his country’s World Cup campaign – had a depleted squad to pick from.
Ofek Melika started the season in goal with Itay Ben Hemo, Ali Camara and Raz Shlomo lining-up as the three central defenders in front of him. Sagiv Jehezkel and Roy Revivo were assigned to the right and left wing-back roles supplying the width on both sides. Issouf Sissokho, Itamar Noy, Ido Shahar and Dor Peretz were in Maccabi’s midfield engine room. While Saied Abu Farchi led the line aiming to solidify his position as Maccabi’s leading striker.
On the bench, Dan Glazer made his first appearance in the squad for an official match since returning to the club. Alongside Glazer, Miller named goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Noam Ben Harush, Ori Azo, Noam Schwartz, Shahar Rosen, Lotem Asres, Ilay Ben Simon and Osher Davida.
First Half
Around 6000 travelling fans all draped in yellow and blue arrived at Turner and filled the north and west ends of the pitch. Eight minutes from the start Saied Abu Farchi almost exploited a mistake in Be’ersheva’s defense as he picked the ball deep inside the area but instead of turning and pulling the trigger he opted to tee up Dor Peretz before the danger was cleared. Two minutes later Maccabi took the lead as Itamar Noy slipped a clever pass to Sagiv Jehezkel before his square ball was swept home by Saied Abu Farchi. The referee assistant raised his flag for offside but VAR intervened reversed the decision and confirmed Maccabi’s lead. Be’ersheva were back on level terms within five minutes as an Eliel Peretz cross eluded Ofek Melika and struck the post before falling to Ofir Davidzada whose shot was flicked by Kings Kangwa into the net.
Maccabi continued to dominate and almost regained their lead two minutes later as Peretz set up Abu Farchi but the 20-year-old striker forced a spectacular save by Ofir Marciano. The resulting corner saw Maccabi find the back of the net with a well drilled set piece that was headed in by Peretz. But the celebrations were shortlived as VAR intervened once again and ruled the Maccabi captain’s goal offside. Abu Farchi had another glorious chance to score as he was at the end of a pinpoint Ido Shahar cross only to guide his header over the crossbar. Seven minutes after the half hour mark tempers flared as Peretz and Lucas Ventura collided leading to a tussle with Jehezkel who was booked together with the Be’ersheva midfielder. Amir Ganah managed to beat Melika with a long range curling shot from the edge of the area but the ball rattled the crossbar.
On the stroke of halftime Kangwa almost scored an audacious goal from teh halfway line as he shrugged Issouf Sissokho off the ball before spotting Melika off his line. But Maccabi’s custodian tracked back and managed to save thus denying the Zambian midfielder his second on the night and avoiding the embarrassment of being caught out.
Second Half
Maccabi began the second half just like they did the first with pressure on the hosts right from the off. A pefect Sissokho diagonal pass released Jehezkel down the right before his fierce drive was parried by Marciano for a corner. Peretz headed over the crossbar on 49 as Maccabi continued to look dangerous going forward. In the 57th minute nothing could deny Peretz his goal which came at the end of a spectacular team effort. Roy Revivo began the move inside Maccabi’s half with a pass to Shahar who jumped over the ball and allowed it run to Abu Farchi. With ine delicate touch the young striker released Jehezkel whose accurate square ball was drilled into the bottom corner by Peretz to make it 2-1.
Six minutes after the hour mark Maccabi were reduced to 10 men in controversial circumstances as the referee ignored an initial push in Revivo’s back before the left back was shown a second yellow card for a tackle on Amit Ohana. Miller introduced Shahar Rosen for Itamar Noy in the 70th minute as Maccabi were forced to battle on for the remaining 20 minutes. Two minutes later and despite the numerical disadvantage Maccabi increased their lead to 3-1 as Jehezkel drove a counter attack down the right and delivered his third assist of the game to Abu Farchi who buried his second and Maccabi’s third.
In the 83rd minute a bizarre incident occurred as Maccabi made a double substitution. Dan Glazer came on to make his renewed debut replacing Abu Farchi who limped off and while Jehezkel was also making his way out referee Aviv Klein showed him a second yellow card. VAR called Klein to screen and he changed the initial decision and allowed Noam Ben Harush to replace him. Inside injury time Rosen blasted in keft screamer which would have been his debut Maccabi goal but the referee assistant raised his flag for offside. Lotem Astes came on for Shahar for the final few minutes as the full time whistle confirmed Maccabi’s 3-1 victory, the first trophy of the season and a place in the Toto Cup final.
