Maccabi Tel Aviv defender Maor Kandil looked back at his side’s 2:1 dramatic victory over Beitar Jerusalem in the 8th Round of the Israel State Cup:

“Thee was pressure and we knew that we could decide the match before overtime as the professional staff has us all in great shape and they prepared us well. I’m happy we were able to.”

Gaining more and more confidence:
“We know how to handle the pressure and we have a good team. We can go into any stadium across the country and give it our all. We are going through a good period of time, but we have to continue that way and gain more and more confidence both in the league and the State Cup.”

Challenging for all the titles:
“Maccabi Tel Aviv is a club that wants to challenge for all of the titles and I hope that we will do exactly that.”

Integrating into the club:
“I was able to integrate into the team a lot faster than I had thought. Everyone welcomed me with open arms and there is a gear atmosphere in our dressing room. I hope that this will continue.”

Importance of the fans:
“The fans support us at every match and we very much appreciate it and are able to give back to them on the pitch. They gave us motivation from minute to minute and I hope that’s how it will continue. We need the fans with us as we have another big match on Tuesday.”

Yonatan Cohen, the Maccabi Tel Aviv striker summed up his squad’s 2:1 win thanks to his 92’ goal as the Yellow & Blue advanced to the Israel State Cup Round of 16:

“I came on late and I am happy that we were able to win the game.”

Great feeling:
“It was a great feeling with a huge crowd in a big match. I am happy that I came on and that I was able to help win the match.”

Working together as a team:
“I don’t have a specific point but it’s everything together, the professional staff, the whole team and we feel that both on and off of the pitch.”

Being Maccabi:
“We of course want to win everything. We are Maccabi Tel Aviv.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach summed up his side’s 2:1 State Cup win over Beitar Jerusalem as they advanced to the Round of 16 thanks to Yonatan Cohen’s late winner:

“Yes it was very sweet win as we won in the last second of the game and it’s important for the team’s psychology. We didn’t start well and how we wanted too. Perhaps the reason is that the pitch wasn’t in a good condition. We tried to play and create but it was difficult. We have our target for the competition and we passed the strongest opponent in this stage.”

About Yonatan Cohen:
“Yonatan Cohen didn’t just do a good job today, but he gives his best every time he plays. I am very happy for him and he is doing well and continues to improve. I am very happy.”

Winning mentality:
“It is important to have a winning mentality and my players went straight to the center circle to play right after the Beitar goal and wanted to win in the 90 minutes. We were lucky to score when we did but we have a strong game and opponent on Tuesday.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s match against Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“It’s a game like every game in the championship; we play for 3 points like every league game.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Beitar Jerusalem 2:1 as late substitute Yonatan Cohen scored in the 93’ to send the Yellow & Blue into the Round of 16 of the Israel State Cup. After a goalless first half, Eliran Atar gave Maccabi a 1:0 lead in the 67’, however, Gaëtan Varenne drew Beitar even in the 82’. Head Coach Vladimir brought on Cohen in the 87’ and what a substitute it would be as the striker scored the winner in the 92’ thanks to a Saborit pass from the left side to move in to the next round of the competition.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI featured keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Maor Kandil, Sheran Yeini, Shahar Piven, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Ruslan Barsky, Avi Rikan, Omer Atzili, Eliran Atar and Itay Shechter.

Bench: Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Dan Glezer, Chico Ofoedu, Dor Micha, Yonatan Cohen, Aron Schoenfeld.

First Half
It took 14 minutes for the first chance of the contest when Yeini’s header was cleared by keeper Itamar Nitzan, while two minutes later Atar’s 16 meter scorcher went over the bar.

In the 31’ Rajikovic was issued a yellow card and Beitar was given a penalty kick when the Maccabi shot stopper pulled down Jakub Sylvestr in the box but Or Inbrum’s spot kick was caught by Rajikovic to keep the match goalless.

Nitzan was again active when he made a fantastic save on the line from 4’ meters out off a Saborit attempt and in the 40’ Ohayon was handed a red card on the bench as the half ended 0:0.

Second Half
Peretz’s 46’ attempt went over the bar and 9 minutes later Dan Einbinder sent a ball into the box but Idan Vered’s chance went out. Miki Siroshtein’s 59’ chance was saved by Rajkovic and 3 minutes later Ivic made his first substitute inserting Dor Micha for Rikan. Inbrum and Vered then each had an opportunity in the 64’ and 65’ to no avail.

Maccabi finally broke the deadlock in the 67’ when Micha sent a beautiful through ball to Kandil on the right side who crossed it into the box to an oncoming Atar who tapped it home for a 1:0 lead. The Yellow & Blue almost found an insurance marker in the 71’ but Nitzan made an unbelievable save on a Shechter header.

Eran Levy’s 25 meter attempt just went by the right post in the 78’ however, Maor Bozaglo’s cross from the right side found an oncoming Gaëtan Varenne who put the ball into the goal to draw even 1:1 in the 82’. Buzaglo tried to head the ball home on the 86’ but Rajkovic made the save and a minute later Atar came off in favor of Yonatan Cohen.

And what a substitute it would be! In the 92’ Saborit fed Cohen a gorgeous ball from the left side that the striker put home for the 2:1 win as the Yellow & Blue advanced to the State Cup Round of 16.

The match against Beitar will open Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 82nd State Cup campaign. Over the years, Maccabi has played in 36 finals and lifted the Cup 23 times – more than any other club.

Maccabi has played 84 different teams in the State Cup competition. The most frequent opponent has been Maccabi Petah Tikva – 23 matches.

In terms of the first round, Maccabi has played 24 teams from the top division, and 57 clubs from lower leagues. The most frequent opponent – Hakoach Ramat Gan and Hapoel Jerusalem 4 times each.
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Maccabi has only played Beitar Jerusalem once in the first round (2002/03). It ended in a 5:3 goalfest at Bloomfield Stadium.

The Yellow & Blue’s record against Beitar Jerusalem: 6 wins, 5 losses.

Only once has Maccabi begun their State Cup journey at Teddy Stadium (2011/12). The match ended in a 1:0 defeat to Hapoel Jerusalem.

Maccabi played only one first round Cup match that went to penalties (2001/02) – 1:1 draw against Tzafririm Holon which the Yellow & Blue won 6:5 via spot kicks. The Yellow & Blue then went on to win the Cup.

The biggest win in the State Cup was a 10:0 victory in the first round of the 1937 edition of the tournament against Maccabi Bar Kokhva Jerusalem.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv all-time goal scoring leader in the State Cup is Benny Tabak with 31 goals.

Tabak’s first State Cup goal was in the first round in 1973 in a 2:0 win over Hapoel Ramat Gan.

Miko Belo is the all-time appearance leader playing in 75 Maccabi State Cup matches.
Jerry Beit Halachmi won the most Cups as Head Coach of the Yellow & Blue – 4 (1954, 1955, 1964, 1965)

Coaches Israel Halivner (1967,1970) and Nir Levin (2001,2002) each took home two Cups a piece.

Most fans in attendance: The match with the most fans (not including the National Team) took place at the 1976 State Cup final between Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Tel Aviv where 55K fans filled the stadium!

Chapter 1

1995/96: Beitar Jerusalem 0:1 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Avi Nimni enjoyed playing against Beitar Jerusalem especially during the Double Season. Many remember his goal in the championship match against the Jerusalemites but #8 had done that beforehand in the State Cup Quarterfinal at Teddy Stadium. Others might also remember Itzik Zohar’s massive miss, one that perhaps may have been the biggest of his career.

Chapter 2

2002/03: Maccabi Tel Aviv 5:3 Beitar Jerusalem
The last time that the two sides faced each other in the 8th Round ended up being a goalfest. Before Amir Turgeman became a Head Coach he was a big time goal scorer and he scored a hat trick in the contest. Itzik Zohar bagged a brace for Jerusalem while Andrezj Kubrick scored a lone marker as well for the capital city squad. Do you miss Andreas Prohonenkovs and Bruno Reis? They also starred that night at Bloomfield Stadium.

Chapter 3

2009/10: Beitar Jerusalem 1:1 Maccabi Tel Aviv (9:8 on penalties)
This matchup didn’t have a terrific end for Yellow & Blue fans but it certainly had a great penalty shootout. Emanuel Mayoka gave Maccabi the lead, Aviram Bruchian drew Jerusalem even in a match that wasn’t decided in 120 minutes. Keeper Liran Strauber then stepped up to take a spot kick against Ariel Harush.

Chapter 4

2012/13: Maccabi Tel Aviv 0:2 Beitar Jerusalem
Here’s a match that should be looked at as warning for this season’s squad that began the season so well. Why just ask? In February 2013, Oscar Garcia’s side came into the State Cup clash with Jerusalem after defeating Hapoel Tel Aviv 4:0 in the Derby and took down Bnei Yehuda 3:2 in what was Jodi Cruyff’s first of three championships. But just 9 days after Moshiko Lugassi’s scorcher, the Yellow & Blue hosted the Jerusalemites at Bloomfield Stadium and when everything looked nice and rosy, everyone was reminded that football is a game with its own rules.

Chapter 5

2017/18: Beitar Jerusalem 1:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv
To end off well let’s look back to the last time the two club’s played each other in the State Cup. It was the Semifinals at Sammy Ofer Stadium and Aron Schoenfeld provided the excitement while Dor Micha added a goal. However, Hen Ezra’s strike caused a bit of nervousness before the final whistle sounded.

Sheran Yeini, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Captain looked ahead to his squad’s upcoming State Cup match at Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday night 21:00:

“This isn’t an easy draw for both teams and it will be a tough match for both sides as we all want to win.”

Focussing on our own play:
“We are focussing on our play and we are preparing accordingly for the rival at hand.”

Knockout competition:
“This is a brand new league for this season and a knock out match which isn’t at all connected to the other competitions. We want to of course win all of our league games but it’s a league. In the State Cup if you don’t win you home, so there is added excitement and you must be extra prepared.”

Containing excitement:
“Every team reacts differently in different competitions. We are making sure that we can contain our excitement and play the way we need to in order to win.”

Being a team on and off of the pitch:
“It’s a good feeling to win all of these league games but we are a great group off of the pitch also. Last season we battled for the title and although we didn’t win it, we were very close as a team. We are a very good group this season as well both the newer players and the veterans and it’s important to be a team on and off of the pitch.”

On the talk about Maccabi in a “different league” than the rest of the clubs:
“We don’t listen to what is going on outside of what we are doing as footballers. We are focusing on our play and the atmosphere in our dressing room is professional and positive in all aspects.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach addressed the assembled media ahead of the Club’s 8th Round State Cup clash at Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday night December 22 at 21:00:

“It’s a tough game against a strong opponent in the first game of this competition. Our target is to win the game and make sure we are we prepared. We have to be at our best to get a good result and advance to the next stage.”

Are Maccabi favorites against Beitar?
“I don’t know if we are favorites as this is the start of a different competition. We are playing in a hot stadium with a lot of fans. I hope that we will have a strong showing from our supporters. We need to give 100% to achieve the victory and advance to the next stage.”

Keeping the team level headed:
“We do our job, myself and the other coaches. We know that every game for Maccabi is important and we go game by game. Many players have been with the club for many years. We don’t want to make an excuse after the game and we must fight from the first to the last second of the game. We don’t know what may happen during the game but that’s how we operate; game by game. We respect Beitar and we believe in ourselves and want to win the game.”

Injury issues:
“Some players will return after some small problems. Everything is under control and haven’t had any new issues over the last few days.”