Dor Peretz scored twice in the space of 15 minutes to help Maccabi pull a three goal comeback and win the Toto Cup beating Maccabi Haifa 3-1 in the final. Peretz, who took his tally to nine goals in all competitions this season helped Maccabi win the Toto Cup for the ninth time in the club’s history. Peretz, who captained Maccabi on the night and lifted the trophy together with Eran Zahavi said at the end of the match: “In matches like that against Maccabi Haifa, the team that is more aggressive, more dominant and plays with more intensity is the one that looks better on the pitch. Maccabi Haifa did that in the first half but things turned round in the second half. They dropped back a little bit while we began playing with more intensity, aggression, were the ones who win tackles and I think that this is what gave us the goals and the victory in the end.”

Peretz, who also scored a brace at the weekend as Maccabi pulled a similar comeback against Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday, spoke of the mental strength him and his teammates share: “In every moment of the game, I believe. I believe in myself, believe in my teammates that we can do it regardless of the score. Tonight we proved it as a team. This change wasn’t done by a single player. In the second half we showed up as a team in all our glory, with the ball and without the ball displaying intensity and aggressiveness. This is what we want to be recognized for and what we’d like to be identified by. On a personal note I’m super happy with our performance and with this victory. We should take the positive things from here and move on to our next task.”

Peretz, who waited for MD14 to score his debut league goals but his since scored five in the space of nine days and in his last three outings, added: “In my role today I should supply goals and assists as I am also judged on that. If I need to look back at the match in the previous round, there were plenty of matches I played but didn’t score the goals. I was satisfied with my performances but didn’t have the goals to show for it. This is what gave me the drive to continue pushing forward and reach those chances which would ultimately go in.”

On the fact Maccabi has been conceding too many goals, Peretz summed up: “We can’t afford to concede that many soft goals which means we didn’t make the lives of our opponents difficult enough. This is something which forces us to chase matches and make them more difficult especially against opponents like Maccabi Haifa. We must be tough in defense and do everything to prevent us from conceding because upfront we have plenty of amazing tools that can score goals.”

On the effect of such an emphatic victory over another title contender, Peretz concluded :”A match against Maccabi Haifa is a match which gives you plenty of energy for the future – whether you or lose. It can have a massive effect on the team. It was extremely important for us to win this match, even if this was the Toto Cup but in order to continue building our momentum. This victory gives us the privilege to carry this momentum to Saturday’s State Cup match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Saturday as we need to continue our good run of form”.

Preview

Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium to face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final for a repeat of last season’s final. As the current holders, Maccabi will aim to retain the trophy which was won last season at the same venue in a penalty shoot out after a 0-0 draw at the end of 90 minutes.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic made three changes from the side that recorded a dramatic 3-2 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva all of the in defense. Roi Mishpati kept his place in goal while Raz Shlomo came in to partner Nemanja Stojic as the two central defenders at the heart of defense. Idan Nachmias slotted in at right-back while Sagiv Jehezkel who completed his one match touchline ban completed the defensive four on the left. Joris van Overeem in the anchorman sat behind Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz who led the team out with the captain’s armband to complete Maccabi’s midfield trio. Osher Davida on one wing and Weslley Patati on the other supplied the width to Maccabi’s formation while Dor Turgeman led the line as the striker upfront.

On the bench, Lazetic named goalkeeper Simon Sluga, Roy Revivo, Tyrese Asante, Eran Zahavi, Elad Madmon, Henry Addo, Issouf Sissokho and Ido Shahar.

First Half

After a nervous start Haifa seemed to have drawn first blood in the 11th minute after a counter attack resulted with Dia Saba beating Roi Mishpati with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. But Haifa’s celebrations were shortlived as VAR called referee to tbe screen after spotting a foul on Gabi Kanichowsky in the build up for the goal. As Maccabi were awarded a free kick at the opposite end Weslley Patati tried his luck from long range but saw his effort pushed away by Shareef Keouf. In the 22nd minute Dor Turgeman conceded an foul and a yellow card for a foul on Dolev Haziza near the corner of the area. But Maccabi’s defense managed to deal with the free kick and clear the danger. 

Maccabi had to claims for a penalty waived by referee Snir Levy after Sagiv Jehezkel was tripped in the box by Kenny Saif and minutes later Turgeman suffered the same fate. But on both occasions VAR didn’t intervene either adding further anger to the Maccabi bench and fans in the stands.

second Half

In the 52nd minute Dolev Haziza dribbled into the box and was tripped by Patati before VAR called the referee to the screen. Haifa were awarded a penalty and Saba stepped up but blasted the spot kick against the post. In the 59th minute, Kanichowsky fired a right foot shot from 25 metres that sailed over the crossbar. Two minutes after the hour mark Maccabi were back on level terms thanks to a spectacular splo effort by Patati. Kanichowsky slipped the ball to Patati before the Brazilian wizard spun around fellow countryman Pedrao and fire home with his right. Lazetic reacted with a double substitution as he introduced Roy Revivo and Issouf Sissokho for Joris van Overeem and Davida. In the 67th minute the comeback was complete as Sissokho fed Peretz who drove the ball forward before blasting a low shot that put Maccabi infront on 67.

Keouf kept Haifa in the game as he was at full stretch to keep out a Jehezkel header that was making it’s way in. In the 77th minute Maccabi increased their lead to two goals with Peretz grabbing his second on the night this time beating Keouf from inside the box to make it 3-1.

Turgeman bowed out to a standing ovation as he was replaced in the 86th minute by Elad Madmon.

Maccabi is Israel’s Toto Cup record holder having won the competition 8 times (1993, 1999, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024).

Besides Maccabi 13 other clubs won the Toto Cup with Maccabi Haifa winning the competition 5 times.

Over the years Maccabi reached a 60.9% success rate in Toto Cup matches – the highest amongst all Israeli clubs.

This will be Maccabi’s 13^th Toto Cup Final – more than any other club.

Seven coaches guided Maccabi to victories in Toto Cup Finals: Avraam Grant (2), Avi Nimni, Pako Ayestaran, Jordi Cryuff, Vladimir Ivic, Georgios Donnis and Robbie Keane.

Maccabi faced Maccabi Haifa 3 times in the Toto Cup Final with Maccabi winning all three.

2014/15 in Netanya (2-1)

2018/19 in Petah Tikva (2-1)

2023/24 in Netanya (0-0 victory on penalties)

Maccabi’s highest victory in the Toto Cup Final – a 4-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the 1992/93 season.

This was the highest victory recorded in 38 finals during Israel’s history.

Alexander Shura Ubarov, Avi Nimni and Dor Peretz made the most appearances for Maccabi in the Toto Cup Finals featuring 5 times each.

Avi Nimni leads Maccabi’s goal scorers with 4 goals in Toto Cup Finals.

Eran Zahavi faced the media at the official Press Conference ahead of the Toto Cup Final against Maccabi Haifa in Netanya (Wednesday, 20:00) which will see the second domestic title handed out.

The veteran striker, who won the Toto Cup with Maccabi last season (23/24) and has won 4 League Championships (12/13, 13/14, 14/15, 23/24) and 1 State Cup (15/16) and 1 Super Cup (24/25) at the club, said: ”Every match you play for a title is important especially at a club like Maccabi Tel Aviv. We don’t underestimate the value of any trophy, especially not against Maccabi Haifa. This is a match which is important for our fans and the most prestigious match in Israeli football. We will do the best we can to win this title.”

Zahavi, who this season scored a total of 4 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions, spoke of the campaign he is currently experiencing: “On a personal level I am feeling good, it is undoubtedly a complex spell, when you sometimes play less, but my job is to deal with that in the best possible way and do the best I can. I am doing my best which is the most important thing.”

On his role in the team this season which has seen him make around half of his appearances as a second half substitute, the 37-year-old Maccabi captain, added: “My role is to be the best I can every day in training – to set an example in things you don’t get to see. My role is to be a professional and, in my opinion, I am doing this at a high standard. There are players here who never won a title so they must begin somewhere, and tomorrow is a greet opportunity for some players to show they can do it.”

On the opponents his side face, Zahavi concluded; “It is tough to assess who is a better side. For the moment we are ahead of Haifa in the table but tomorrow is a totally separate game. We are talking about 90 minutes which would culminate in a trophy, this is not the marathon which is the league. We are dealing with two quality sides with players who could decided a match at any given moment.”