Maccabi Tel Aviv advanced to the final of the Toto Cup on Sunday with a 1-0 away win over Kiryat Shmona and goalkeeper Daniel Tenenbaum, who replaced the injured Andreas Gianniotis between the posts talked about the game.

When asked about his ability, Tenebaum said: “I felt good during the game and I always do my best in training. I have to be prepared for any situation to be at my very best.”

He said he expected Gianniotis would be okay. “I’m certain he will recover but if I get the opportunity to play, of course, I will give my all.”

Tenebaum, a four-season veteran at the club said he was certain that he could assume the role of first-choice ‘keeper but that it was “up to the coach to determine who plays and I accept his decisions and do as is expected of me.”

He said Maccabi’s ending of the European campaign by FK Suduva last week was a difficult result. “We felt we were better than our opponents but we must look ahead with optimism despite the difficulties that football throws at us.”

Asked whether Maccabi had lost its edge, Tenenbaum said: “We are almost the same outfit that played last season, there have not been many changes. We want to play better in each game and I believe that slowly, in each outing we will improve.”

Jerusalem, who beat Hapoel Beersheba 3-1 in the other semi-final.

Maccabi Tel Aviv reached their third consecutive Toto Cup final on Sunday and will look to achieve a hat trick of titles after beating Hapoel Kiryat Shmona 1-0 in the semi-final which was held at the northern team’s home ground. The only goal of the game was credited as an own goal by Kiryat Shmona goalkeeper Dziugas Bartkus, who was unable to keep out Eylon Almog’s header. The Maccabi midfielder headed a cross from Eliran Atar towards the Kiryat Shmona goal in the 48^th minute. 

Maccabi reached the semi-final by beating Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 1-0 in the Champion of Champions playoff earlier this month. Kiryat Shmona’s path to the semis was secured via the Toto Cup group stage, where coach Masai Dago’s charges notched three wins and a defeat.

The final will be played against Beitar Jerusalem, who beat Hapoel Beersheba 3-1 at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem in the second semi-final on Sunday night.

Maccabi’s lineup: Andreas Gianniotis (Daniel Tenenbaum, 21); Maor Kandil (Jair Amador, 59), Eitan Tibi, Shahar Piven (Amit Glazer, 76), Ofir Davidzada, Ruslan Barski; Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan (Dor Micha, 63), Eylon Almog, Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar (Yonatan Cohen, 63).

Maccabi Tel Aviv will open the defence of their Premier League title next week when the new season begins. The league this year holds the name of title sponsor, the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). First up will be an away clash with promoted Ness Ziona, who will host at the Moshava Stadium in Petah Tikva on Saturday, Aug. 24, kickoff at 20:30.

Ticket sales have begun and preference is given to season ticket holders until Aug. 20 at noon. Thereafter, remaining tickets will be available to all-comers.

Tickets are available from the Leaan ticket agency, call-centre number *8780, through their sales desk at 42 Frishman St. Tel Aviv, the Leaan web site and via the Maccabi Tel Aviv web site.

A “loyalty points” system is offered for this fixture. Loyalty points afford preference to supporters wishing to purchase tickets for away fixtures where tickets will be in very high demand. https://www.maccabi-tlv.co.il/en/2018/05/points-allocation-system-away-matches/

For this match, 2019-20 season ticket holders purchasing a ticket will receive three points.

Season ticket holders who are also FOREVER supporters’ club members will receive six points.

Non-season ticket holders will earn 1.5 points.

FOREVER+ members who are not season ticket holders will earn three points.

Points can be earned only when quoting a membership number. Non-season ticket holders must quote their Leaan user name when making a purchase.

Please note that supporters who have purchased a ticket but do not attend the match will not receive their points.

Ticket prices:

Maccabi supporters will be seated in the eastern stand (Gates 10-14). Please print your tickets at home and bring them with you.

Purchasing at Leaan ticket desk: 66 NIS

Telephone/internet purchase: 71 NIS

Ticket pickup from Leaan ticket desk (Sun-Thu 09:00-19:00, Fri 09:00-13:00)

Ticket pickup from stadium box office starting three hours prior to kickoff. Stadium ticket booths will close 45 minutes after kickoff.

In a bid to cancel the 2-1 deficit from the first leg in Netanya, Maccabi faced Sudova in Lithuania.

Vladimir Ivic’s side started the match well and enjoyed most of the possession but the hosts took the lead against the run of play in the 12th minute.

Josip Tadic’s shot deflected off Jair Amador to deceive Andreas Giannoitis before Mihret Topcagic nodded home from close range.

Itay Shechter’s effort struck Sudova’s crossbar at the opposite end while Cohen’s free kick hit the post as Maccabi came close to level the score. On the brink of half-time however, the hosts managed to double their lead. Andro Svrljuga’s shot deflected off Dan Glazer’s boot to beat Giannoitis.

Nick Blackman replaced Shechter for the second half and Maccabi continued dominating with Sudova’s keeper Ivan Kardum denying Ivic’s charges with several last gasp saves.

 In the 86th minute Kardum saved Cohen’s initial shot before Blackman pounced on the rebound to slot home and give Maccabi some hope. Inside injury time, Cohen, who had a goal disallowed earlier as he was judged to have handled the ball and was consequently booked, was sent off for a second bookable offense.

Blackman could have leveled the score from close range but managed to scoop his shot over the bar. The full time whistle ended Maccabi’s European campaign with a 4-2 aggregate defeat to the Lithuanians who advanced to the Playoffs.

Maccabi Tel Aviv go into the return leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie with FK Suduva in Lithuania tonight at 20:00 trailing 2-1. In 2015, Maccabi faced Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic in the Champions League third qualifying round in exactly the same situation. Here’s a reminder of what happened in that second leg exactly four years ago.