Facts from the match
This will be Maccabi’s third final in a row and 36th appearance in the title match overall.

The Yellow & Blue finally defeated Beitar Jerusalem this season after a draw and a loss in league action.

This was Eyal Golasa’s first start since the 1:0 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva on February 4th.

This was the first time Vidar Kjartansson wasn’t part of the Starting XI since February 8th.

Aaron Schoenfeld scored his first goal for Maccabi.

Sheran Yeini assisted on the strike which was his first helper since returning to the Yellow & Blue.

More stats
Central defender Tal Ben Haim won 8 of 9 aerial battles for the ball.

Egor Filipenka stole the ball 11 times to lead Maccabi. Eyal Golasa made sure to keep the ball from the opponent’s on 10 occasions leading the club in that statistic.

Up until he was injured, Barak Itzhaki made 3 key passes and each one found its intended target. Yossi Benayoun and Eli Dasa were each 2 for 2 while Sheran Yeini finished 2 for 3.

Ruben Micael made the most attacking passes going 31/38 with Yeini finishing the night with 31 of 34.

Dor Micha made 14 of 15 passes with ten of them being on the attack (9 reached their target).

Winger Tal Ben Chaim and Yeini teamed up for 23 passes between themselves, the most of any two players. In second place was Micael and Ben Chaim with 21 as number 11 received 28 in total passes from the two.

Maccabi had possession of the ball for only 37% of the time in the second half while they kept the ball for 56% of the first half.

Dor Micha, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s midfielder looked back at the 2:1 Israel State Cup Semifinal victory against Beitar Jerusalem at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa. Number 15 spoke about scoring a goal, the title race and focusing on the Cup:

“I think that after the match in Turner against Beer Sheva we knew that the chances in the league diminished a bit and we wanted to really focus on the Cup. This was also a game where there was no looking back. We put in a tremendous amount of energy and I think that this was one our best games recently,”

Replacing the injured Barak Itzhaki at the break:

“We have a great relationship for many years now that’s unrelated to the goal itself. He even told me at halftime that I would score and he really encouraged me after he came out injured. I hope that he can come back as soon as possible because we really need him.”

Refocusing on the Cup after the loss to Beer Sheva:

“It’s behind us already and we didn’t play well against Beer Sheva. We had played well for a while before the match and you can say that we didn’t do well in the match itself but we have already put it aside and are looking at the goals that we have ahead for ourselves.”

The title race going forward:

“I think we have to keep fighting for the league title and we have an obligation to do so for the Club and for the fans. We have to win all of the matches remaining in the season and we know that it’s not in our hands but we will do the maximum and pressure Beer Sheva as much as we can.”

The Coach and Sports Director’s relationship:

“There wasn’t anything extraordinary that happened over the last few days because the relationship between the coach and Jordi is fine and the situation on the bench is just as it was when he signed with the team. When we won no one discussed it but when we lost everyone looked at it. The relationship is fine and from our point of view everything is ok.”

Importance of the match:

“I don’t think we needed any encouragement coming into this match as we all knew the importance of it. We had to give it all no matter what we had just gone through. Maccabi Tel Aviv has always said that there is an emphasis placed on winning the league and the State Cup and right now we definitely are in the picture for the Cup. In regards to the league we will fight until the end and hope to win it all.”

On scoring:

“It was a lot of fun to score and I haven’t in a while so scoring an important goal in the State Cup Semifinal was very rewarding.”

Aaron Schoenfeld scored his first goal in a Maccabi Tel Aviv jersey to help the Yellow & Blue to a 2:1 Israel State Cup Semifinal victory against Beitar Jerusalem. The American born striker spoke about getting the start, fighting for the league title, his first goal and the win itself:

“It’s a good day to be a player for the Club, it was a hard game but we’re excited for the finals. I feel good and it was a little hot today so I had a little bit of calf cramping, but I feel good physically.”

First goal for Maccabi:

“It was great to get the monkey off of my back and it’s always good to get the first goal for a new Club because there’s always a lot of anticipation, but I’m glad that’s off of my chest.”

Ready to go:

“When I’m called upon I’ll be ready. I just want to help the team win.”

Getting the start in place of Vidar Kjaratansson:

“He’s a great player. Today I found out. It’s normal. There’s a lot of games and if my name is called I’m ready and if not it’s ok. I feel I can help off of the bench if I have to come off of the bench. When I first came he had a ton of goals including a hat trick. I don’t think I jinxed him.”

Fighting for the league championship:

“Obviously it’s not in our control in the league and the pressure is now on Beer Sheva and not on us. We still have hope and we still hope that we can win the league. I’m looking forward to the final.”

Lito Vidigal, the Yellow & Blue boss looked back at his side’s 2:1 win against Beitar Jerusalem catapulting them into the Finals where they will take on Bnei Yehuda in the “Little Derby” on May 25th in Jerusalem:

“Congratulation to the players and to the fans, I’m here to work hard and do my job. When we win then the fans win. When we don’t then I take the responsibility.”

Changes in the lineup:

“Every match there are changes, but we got players back who had been injured like Aaron Schoenfeld and Eyal Golasa. We have three games this week and we had to use more players. We have to continue to fight in all competitions. We will fight for the league title until the end.”

Differences between this match and Hapoel Beer Sheva:

“The penalty against Beer Sheva was the difference.”

State Cup competition:

“You have one game to make it to the final and that’s what you have to do, win.”

Improving:

“I’m here to work and since I’ve arrived we have played many games and only have lost one game on a penalty. We’ve done about 29 training sessions since I’ve been here and the players have improved. The more time I’m here, the more the team will improve.”

Working with the players:

“The players look to me and they know what I want. The dressing room is the place where we resolve our problems and right now there are no problems.”

Status going forward:

“We have a lot of games and we have a Final to play. The league isn’t finished and we have a lot of work to do. I’m not giving up on the league and the people that work with me won’t give up either. We have a chance to fight at the end for the league. The fans deserve our courage and that we fight for the league until the last seconds.”

Giving playing time to the whole squad:

“I try to give chances to everybody and the best may play more, but at Maccabi, the team is most important.”

On Aaron Schoenfeld starting today:

“I respect every player and the players that work hard will deserve to play. They all play for Maccabi and I have to respect everybody.”

Goals by Aaron Schoenfeld and Dor Micha were enough to send Maccabi Tel Aviv through to the Finals in Jerusalem where they will face Bnei Yehuda on May 25th. Hen Ezra scored in the 90th minute to cut the lead to 2:1 but the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the win.

Prematch
Lito Vidigal’s Starting XI had a number of twists for the State Cup Semifinal but Predrag Rajikovic opened in goal with a defense of Eli Dasa, Egor Filipenka, Tal Ben Haim and Captain Sheran Yeini. Eyal Golasa made his return to the squad after injury while Ruben Micael and Yossi Benayoun filled out the midfield. Winger Tal Ben Chaim, Barak Itzhaki and Aaron Schoenfeld provided the attack.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Lifshitz, Ramon Roma, Gal Alberman, Vidar Kjartansson, Dor Micha, Avi Rikan, Marcelo dos Santos.

First Half
The match kicked off with electricity in the air with both groups of fans were active from the get go was Maccabi penetrated the Beitar defense early on to no avail. Antoine Conte had Beitar’s first real chance in the 14th minute but Rajikovic smothered the ball by the right post. Maccabi went right back the other way, however, Itzhaki’s long range attempt scooted by the left post to keep the contest goalless.

However, Schoenfeld would change that in a flash heading home a brilliant 18th minute cross by Yeini off of the left wing to give the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead. The Israeli-American leaped into the air to head in his first goal for Maccabi to the delight of the fans who chanted his name! Ten minutes later Rajikovic was called upon to make a superb save blocking Dan Einbinder’s close range attempt as things began to heat up on the pitch.

Ben Chaim cut into the box off the left side in the 45th minute but his great chance was pushed away to safety by Kleyman as the sides headed into the break with Maccabi maintaining a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Dor Micha came in for an injured Itzhaki to begin the second half for Maccabi as Beitar had the first chance when Hen Ezra launched a missile from 15 meters out, but Rajikovic was up to the task parrying the ball over the bar. In the 55th minute Ben Chaim flew into the box on the left side but came up empty as Maccabi looked for an insurance marker.

And an insurance marker they would find in the 60th minute via Dor Micha as number 15 took a pass from Dasa and put it behind Kleyman for the 2:0 Yellow & Blue advantage. Five minutes later Micha almost scored his second as Schoenfeld sent him a spectacular pass in the box off of the left wing but the midfielder couldn’t get a good shot away.

Schoenfeld picked up a yellow card in the 69th minute while Yeini received one of his own three minutes later and Gal Alberman replaced Golasa on the 78th minute. Just one minute later, Benayoun gave Ben Chaim a beauty of a pass but his effort went out. Conte looked to pull one back for Beitar in the 81st minute but his chance went flying over the goal.

Marcelo dos Santos came in for goal scorer Schoenfeld in the 86th minute as Maccabi looked to wrap up the match, however, Beitar pulled a goal back in the 90th minute thanks to Hen Ezra cutting the score to 2:1 in favor of the Yellow & Blue. And that’s how it would end sending Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israel State Cup Final in Jerusalem where they will face Bnei Yehuda on May 25th.