Maccabi in search of a 24^th Cup

This will be the 84^th State Cup Final since the competition was introduced.

Maccabi holds the Israeli record number as State Cup Winners (23) and another 13 times as finalists.

Hapoel Tel Aviv is ranked second with 16 victories in the Final as well as 8 defeats.

What is the record in Finals against Hapoel Tel Aviv?

The Tel Aviv derby between Maccabi and Hapoel was played 8 times in the State Cup Final – the most frequent meeting between any two sides.

Maccabi beat Hapoel in 5 Cup Finals (1933, 1941, 1967, 1988 and 1994).

Hapoel beat Maccabi in 3 Cup Finals (1934, 1938 and 1983).

Twenty Seven years have passed since the last Tel Aviv derby was played in the Cup Final (1994)

Itzik Zohar and Nir Klinger scored the goals that awarded Maccabi the Cup with a 2-0 victory. It was the only Cup Final victory between the sides that had a two goal margin.

The other seven Cup Final were closer and ended with a one-goal-margin and after 90 minutes

Maccabi faced Hapoel in the State Cup on 18 occasions, with Maccabi winning 13 ties and losing 5.

A second successive Final at Bloomfield

The State Cup Final was decided 14 times in a penalty shoot-out.

Maccabi reached spot kicks on four occasions winning three of the shoot-outs: Twice against Maccabi Haifa (1987 and 2002) and once against Maccabi Hertzliya (2005). Maccabi lost to Bnei Yehuda at the end of a penalty shoot-out in 2017.

This will be the second time in succession the Final is played at Bloomfield.

So far 12 Finals were played at the Jaffa stadium, Maccabi featured in four and won all Bnei Yehuda (1965), Hapoel Tel Aviv (1967), Maccabi Netanya (1970) and Hapoel Rishon Lezion (1996).

“There couldn’t be any better match than that. We are playing for experiences, titles and this match will be an amazing experience for all parties involved. We are waiting for such matches, we will come to work hard but also to try and enjoy ourselves” Yeini said.

“On matches of this type, with the surrounding atmosphere and a Cup at stake – there is not much to say. We are all here to win titles. Our desire is decorate ourselves and the club with trophies – so our drive is immense” the 34-year-old captain said, “We don’t deal with what we lost but on what we could win”In football there is no room for disappointments because we you always start making progress towards your next target. This title is extremely important for us and this is what we are constantly talking about”.

The contracts of the first team players Tal Ben Chaim, Maor Kandil, Matan Hozez, Matan Baltaxa, Daniel Peretz, Michael Chilaka, Tomer Machluf, Novatos Miroshi, Tamir & Amit Glazer were extended according to their respective options.

Tal Ben Chaim, Matan Hozez and Matan Baltaxa will continue at the club until the end of the 2020/21 season, while Maor Kandil and Daniel Peretz will continue wearing the Yellow and Blue until the end of the 2022/23 season.

Tamir Glazer, who was loaned out to Hapoel Hadera, Amit Glazer who spent six months on loan at Bnei Yehuda as well as Michael Chilaka, Tomer Machluf and Novatos Miroshi who spent a season-long-loan with second division side Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam – will also continue at Maccabi until the end of the 2022/23 season.   

“We gave everything until the last second” Piven said, “I am proud of my teammates, proud of the fans and the coaching staff that pushed us all the way until the final moment. We tried to give everything but still we have a crucial match that could end this season with a sweet taste and make it a really glorious season. We must recover quickly, leave the disappointment behind us and focus on the most important match of our season”.

The 24-year-old captain paid tributes to the title contenders who were fierce rivals throughout the season as well as the State Cup Final against Hapoel Tel Aviv: “I would like to congratulate Maccabi Haifa. They had an amazing season and deserve it after 10 years. We still have one very important target o Wednesday as we prepare to come and eat the pitch”.

Pre Match

Maccabi Tel Aviv arrived at the final league match of the season knowing that only a victory against Kiryat Shmona at Bloomfield together with a Maccabi Haifa slip-up at home against Hapoel Be’ersheva could leave them a chance of retaining the championship.

With 74 points from a possible 35 matches, Maccabi entered the final league round trailing the league leaders by two points in the table. Four days after the 2-1 victory away to Ashdod in the league and three days before the State Cup Final against Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi’s coach Patrick van Leeuwen made five changes to his side.

Daniel Tenenbaum who didn’t miss a single minute during the entire season, made his 55th start in all competitions as the 26-year-old Brazilian born custodian started in goal. Eytan Tibi stepped in for Matan Baltaxa as the defensive partner of Louis Hernandez while Andre Geraldes and Enric Saborit completed the back four on the right and left respectively. Dan Glazer returned to the heart of midfield for the suspended Dor Peretz with Sheran Yeini taking up the second anchorman role allowing Dan Biton to push slightly forward. Upfront Van Leeuwen made three changes as Matan Hozez, Eduardo Gurrero and Nick Blackman who all made substitute appearances at Ashdod, were given a chance to start the match.

Etey Shechter and Tal Ben Chaim dropped to the bench waiting to make their mark together with Baltaxa, Eden Karzev, Eylon Almog, Ofir Davidzada, Shahar Piven and Yonatan Cohen.

First Half

Boosted by the support of 20,412 fans at Bloomfield, Maccabi began the match on the front foot in a bid to score an early goal. Five minutes after the start a counter attack down the right channel saw Andre Geraldes and Eduardo Guerrero exchange passes before the Portuguese full-back sent a dangerous cross that was collected by Dziugas Bartkus.

In the 10th minute Nick Blackman quickly turned to create himself some space but his long range effort didn’t trouble the Kiryat Shmona keeper. Dan Biton sent Matan Hozez with a through ball that was cleared by Kiryat Shmona’s defense for a corner that Guerrero headed goal-bound only to force Bartkus to stretch himself and save.

Hozez was sent into the area once again on 15, this time by Dan Glazer, only to see a last gasp tackle by a Kiryat Shmona defender block the shot for a corner. Three minutes later however, Biton broke the deadlock in spectacular style as the diminutive winger unleashed a powerful long range left foot shot that rocketed past Bartkus and set Bloomfield stadium alight.

Maccani were given a golden chance to double the score in the 24th minute as a Guerrero’s cut-back found Biton who teed-up Hozez only to see the pacey forward fail to connect. A minute after the half hour mark Daniel Tenenbaum was called into the action as Eugene Ansah’s powerful shot rattled his post.

Biton, grabbed his second and doubled Maccabi’s lead on 39 at the end of a brilliant move he began by dribbling into the box, exchanging of passes with Guerrero before squeezing the ball under Bartkus.

Second Half

Kiryat Shmona made a change after the break as Guy Ben Lulu was replaced by Michael Amanga who received a standing ovation from the Maccabi fans for the goal he scored against Haifa last week.

The visitors cut the deficit on 53 as Lucio exploited a mistake in Maccabi’s defense before sending a powerful left foot shot into the top corner giving Tenenbaum no chance.

Van Leeuwen made a triple change as Shahar Piven, Ofir Davidzada and Eylon Almog replaced Sheran Yeini, Enric Saborit and Matan Hozez shortly before the hour mark.

In the 72nd minute Maccabi came close to increase their lead as Almog’s trickery saw him beat a defender before teeing-up Piven who flashed his shot wide. Yonatan Cohen replaced the tired Guerrero on 74 as the forward who recently recovered from an injury was given 16 minutes to get precious playing minutes.

Maccabi totally dominated the play as Biton and Almog toyed with the visitors’ defense only to see Cohen blast his shot high and wide on 79. Four minutes later, Blackman was sent clear and had his initial shot saved by Bartkus before Cohen’s attempt to reach the rebound was blocked.

In the 87th minute Eden Karzev became the fifth substitute on the night as the he replaced Dan Glazer who played with a bleeding cut above his eye from the first half.

When it seemed as though the victory was only seconds away, yet the fans who knew it wasn’t enough to win the league were singing ahead of Wednesday’s Cup Final – Kiryat Shmona grabbed their equalizer.  

Ori Dahan rose high to head a corner across the face of Maccabi’s goal and into the path of Ansah who silenced Bloomfield with a close range equalizer that settled the score at 2-2.

Liran Liani’s full-time whistle saw the Maccabi players walk around the ground thanking the fans for their support and receive gratitude for their efforts throughout the season. On Wednesday, the same scenes could be emulated yet with a different ending as Bloomfield stadium will stage the State Cup Final.