This evening’s tie against Hapoel Hadera will begin the 87^th State Cup run as the quest to reach the final begins at Netanya. Maccabi played in 37 State Cup finals, winning the trophy on 24 occasions – more than any other Israeli club.

Maccabi have a 90.7% success rate in the first round of the Cup after advancing through on 78 occasions and suffering an early knock out 8 times.

Eighty-five different opponents played against Maccabi over the years of which Maccabi Petah Tikva (25), Hapoel Tel Aviv (20) and Maccabi Haifa (19) were the teams to do so more than others.

Hakoach Ramat Gan and Hapoel Jerusalem played against Maccabi four times in the round of 32.

Hapoel Hadera will be the third top-flight club to face Maccabi in this round in the past 10 years. A 2-1 victory over Beitar Jerusalem in 2019 and a 1-0 victory over Hapoel Be’ersheva in 2021 were the other two top-flight opponents.

Since the 2011/12 season Maccabi hosted only two matches in the Round of 32 – a 3-0 victory over Bnei Mamba (2018) and a 4-0 victory over Hapoel Marmorek.

Maccabi played against Hadera five times in the Cup between 1955-1981 of which Maccabi won 3and lost 2.

Benny Tabak is Maccabi’s leading scorer in the State Cup with 31 goals to his name. Tabak scored his first goal in the competition during a 2-0 victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan in 1973. Tabak’s final goal in the State Cup was scored in the 2-1 victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 1988 final.

Miko Belo made the most appearances fore Maccabi in the Cup registering 75 matches.

Jerry Beit Halevi won four State Cups as Maccabi’s coach – (1954, 1955, 1964, 1965).

The 31-year-old keeper who joined Maccabi in the summer from Haifa, kept a clean sheet over the 90 minutes before facing his former teammates for a crucial penalty shoot out that won the trophy. Mishpati, who saved the first two spot kicks of Tjraonn Cherry and Frantzdy Pierrot to give Maccabi the lead, didn’t deny his previous acquaintance with his former teammates helped him: “Maybe it has, I know them all very well. Maybe it helped me, but I am delighted with the first two penalty saves I made and for helping the team win the first title of the season. Now we are looking forward again at our next task in the State Cup against Hapoel Hadera.”

“The coach prepares us for every game” Mishpati added, “We only looked at this game as one we needed to come and win. Now our sights are on the Cup. This is how we operate – on a game-by-game basis. I am delighted we managed to win today and clinch the first trophy this season.”

 

Mishpati didn’t get carried away with the victory over the fellow title contenders, as he said: “It gives us a push, it was a match with a title at stake and a very lucrative match. We were preparing for this all week, and we really wanted it, but what makes me even happier is playing good football. I am just delighted we won the penalties and title is ours.”

On Maccabi’s recent form that saw them held to a 0-0 draw by Hapoel Petah Tikva earlier this week, Mishpati summed up: “I think we showed some good form today as well as against Hapoel Petah Tikva when the ball refused to go in. As I said earlier, we always prepare ourselves for the next game as we are now focused on Sunday’s State Cup match against Hapoel Hadera”.   

 

Maccabi arrived at the Netanya stadium for the Toto Cup Final match against Maccabi Haifa with one clear intention – winning the first trophy on offer this season for the 8th time in the club’s history. A fortnight after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Haifa at Bloomfield in the league and 12 days before playing the corresponding league fixture at Haifa – both teams squared-up for the secondary Cup competition.

Robbie Keane who will aim to guide his charges to victory and win his first trophy at Maccabi and as a coach, made several changes from the side that was held to a 0-0 draw against Hapoel Petah Tikva.

Derrick Luckassen returned to the heart of defense at the expense of Idan Nachmias who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. The Dutch defender lined-up alongside Enric Saborit and Matan Baltaxa with Avishai Cohen completing the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Roi Mishpati. Joris van Overeem was named as the midfield anchorman while Gabi Kanichowsky and Dor Peretz completed the midfield engine room trio. An ankle injury to Dor Turgeman forced the young forward out of the squad making way for Dan Biton who was named on one wing with Roy Revivo on the opposite flank. Upfront, Keane named Eran Zahavi as the veteran marksman led the line and the team out wearing the captain’s armband.

On the bench, Keane named Orando Mosquera, Yonatan Cohen, Sheran Yeini, Eyal Golasa, Ofir Davidzada, Ido Shahar, Kiko Bondoso, Eden Kartzev and Osher Davida.

First Half

Maccabi created the first chance of the game as early as the fourth minute as Dan Biton blasted a shot which proved too powerful for Shareef Keouf to catch. Dor Peretz punced on the loose ball but was let down by his touch as he drilled the ball over the crossbar. Maccabi dominated the play but Haifa came close in the 10th minute as a cross reached Pierre Cornud at the far post forcing Roi Mishpati to make his first save.

Eight minutes later Joris van Overeem released Peretz for a counter attack with a clever pass before a cross to the far post saw Roy Revivo slide in but Keouf managed to dive at his feet and clear for a corner. Revivo continued to look lively as he rose inside the area to head the resulting corner towards goal but once again Haifa’s keeper managed to save.

Just before the half hour mark Anan Khalili picked the ball inside Maccabi’s area and charged forward before inleasing a powerful drive that was parried away by Mishpati before the danger was cleared.

With no goals scored before the halftime whistle was sounded, the two teams went regroup and prepare for the second period.

Second Half

Robbie Keane and Haifa counterpart Mesay Dego didn’t make any change at the restart which saw Maccabi start on a high note. Revivo charged down the left flank and into the Haifa penalty area before he was brought down by a defender but referee Aviad Sholoah decided not to blow his whistle.

Mishpati produced a save on 61 as he reacted well to deny Din David while three minutes later Keane made his first change as Ofir Davidzada came on for Matan Baltaxa. Kiko Bondoso was introduced for Dan Biton as Keane made his second substitution in the 72nd minute.

A pinpoint Revivo pass over Haifa’s defense in the 78th minute released Eran Zahavi for his first clear chance but the veteran Maccabi marksman narrowly missed the target as he sent his volley against the side netting. Keane made another double change as Revivo and Van Overeem were replaced in the 80th minute by Osher Davida and Eden Kartzev for his renewed debut.

A Haifa defender almost scored into his own goal in the 87th before the resulting corner in bizarre circumstances just seemed to bounce at the goalmouth refusing to go in.

The fourth official indicated six minutes of added time, but with no goals scored both teams were sent to settle the tie from the penalty spot.

Penalty shoots:

Zahavi scored the first spot kick before Mishpati made a save from Tjaronn Cherry. Eden Kartzev beat Keouf and Mishpati kept his goal sealed as he kept out Frantzdy Pierrot. Davida kept his calm and despite slipping sent Keouf the wrong way to give Maccabi a three goal lead. Anan Khalaili cut the deficit to make it 3-1 before Dor Peretz could have sealed it but missed his shot wide of the target.

Cornud blasted his spot kick into the top corner to make it 3-2 before Derrick Luckassen won the contest with a perfect spot kick.

Maccabi Tel Aviv won the Toto Cup 7 times, more than any other Israeli club (1993, 1999, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021).

Since the Toto Cup was introduced 39 seasons ago, 13 different clubs won the competition with Maccabi Haifa lifting Israel’s secondary Cup 5 times.

Wednesday’s Cup final at Netanya will be Maccabi’s 12^th time in the final finishing as finalists on four occasions.

Avraham Grant (2), Avi Nimni, Pako Ayestaran, Jordi Cruyff, Vladimir Ivic and Giorgios Donis all guided Maccabi as coaches to win the Toto Cup.

Maccabi previously faced Haifa twice in the final winning both matches by the same result (2-1) in the 2014/15 and 2018/19 seasons.

The highest victory Maccabi recorded in a Toto Cup Final was the 4-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the 1992/93 season. Meir Melika (2) Nir Klinger and Avi Nimni were all on target to secure the first Toto Cup in the club’s history.

Dor Peretz has 4 appearances in the Toto Cup Final and could equal the record of Avi Nimni and Alexandr ‘Shura’ Ubarov who are Maccabi’s record holders with 5 appearances each.

Twelve different players scored for Maccabi in the Toto Cup Final. Avi Nimmi, who is Maccabi’s leading goal-scorer in the competition, scored 4 of his 25 goals at the final stage.

Maccabi Tel Aviv won the Toto Cup 7 times, more than any other Israeli club (1993, 1999, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021).

Since the Toto Cup was introduced 39 seasons ago, 13 different clubs won the competition with Maccabi Haifa lifting Israel’s secondary Cup 5 times.

Wednesday’s Cup final at Netanya will be Maccabi’s 12^th time in the final finishing as finalists on four occasions.

Avraham Grant (2), Avi Nimni, Pako Ayestaran, Jordi Cruyff, Vladimir Ivic and Giorgios Donis all guided Maccabi as coaches to win the Toto Cup.

Maccabi previously faced Haifa twice in the final winning both matches by the same result (2-1) in the 2014/15 and 2018/19 seasons.

The highest victory Maccabi recorded in a Toto Cup Final was the 4-0 win over Hapoel Petah Tikva in the 1992/93 season. Meir Melika (2) Nir Klinger and Avi Nimni were all on target to secure the first Toto Cup in the club’s history.

Dor Peretz has 4 appearances in the Toto Cup Final and could equal the record of Avi Nimni and Alexandr ‘Shura’ Ubarov who are Maccabi’s record holders with 5 appearances each.

Twelve different players scored for Maccabi in the Toto Cup Final. Avi Nimmi, who is Maccabi’s leading goal-scorer in the competition, scored 4 of his 25 goals at the final stage.

Eran Zahavi struck the woodwork twice but couldn’t add to his goal tally and was left frustrated as Maccabi dropped two valuable points after being held to a 0-0 draw by Hapoel Petah Tikva.

At the end of the match at the Petah Tikva stadium, Zahavi said: “We had plenty of chances to score and if the game would have ended 5-0 it would have seemed normal. The ball simply refused to get in as it was one of these days that even if the ball beats the keeper, it hits the post, or blocked by a player on the goal-line. It was just unlucky, but I believe that if we continue creating chances like that, we will win matches and collect points. We did not do it in this game but will try and restore it at the next game.”

The fourth draw of the season took Maccabi’s point-tally to 43 cutting the lead at the top from second place to a solitary point. “There is no cruising towards the championship. It is a marathon. Every team has its ups and downs during a season. Maccabi Haifa had a bad spell, now we are experiencing a spell where we are not collecting the number of points we are used to, so the gap naturally shrinks. But even when we had a 10-point-lead we knew we will have a period where it wouldn’t work as well especially with this overload of matches. Now we must show our character and prove our strength as a team. I am sure we will manage to overcome this short spell and continue running forward”.

On what hasn’t been working lately, Zahavi added: “The ball just didn’t go in. We created a lot of chances over the past few games, we were got ourselves under pressure in the last minutes, we found ourselves chasing some games“ he tried explaining but remained confident, “Once again, we are not letting g our heads drop, it is a spell we will go through together and emerge stronger. We are not here to make apologies, we are still at the top of the table – it is still a marathon and everything will be ok”.