The battle for the second title of the season took place this evening (Wednesday) at the Netanya Stadium, when Maccabi Tel Aviv met Maccabi Haifa in the final of the Toto Cup 2023/24. This will be the second meeting in two weeks with the team from Carmel after the first league meeting in Bloomfield the yellows went down 1:0.
Robbie Keane had to manage without Dor Turgeman in the squad and made several changes to the lineup. Roi Mishfati continued to receive credit as well as a lineup that included Avishai Cohen, Derek Lucassen, Enrique Savorit, Matan Balatxa and Roy Revivo at the back. Joris van Overeem, Gabi Kanikowski and Dor Peretz played before Dan Bitton and Eran Zahavi in the wing.
first half
Already in the 4th minute, Dor Peretz scored a great opportunity after driving a ball on the left side that ended with Rabivo’s lift. The deflected ball reached Biton who continued with a kick to Kiyof’s goal, the latter deflected to the feet of Peretz but his kick went over the crossbar.
Maccabi continued to be dominant in the game and controlled the ball and the pace. Attempts by Dor Peretz, Dan Bitton and a great strike by Matan Balatxa found the Haifa defense in place and Kiyof ready in the first 20 minutes. On the other hand, one attempt by Curno found my lips almost alert from lack of work.
In the 24th minute, Maccabi fans honored the memory of the 24 martyrs who fell yesterday (Tuesday) in Gaza with applause, when on the grass Kein’s players tried to find a breach in Haifa’s dense defense but with great difficulty.
second half
Both teams advanced to the second half without changes in the lineup. Maccabi started the half better but had difficulty getting into real situations. From the other side, as the minutes went by, Haifa managed to take control of the pitch and got closer to Mishpeti’s goal.
In the 64th minute Ofir Davidzade entered the game in the first substitution of Cain in place of Matan Balatsa. In the 72nd minute, Cain made the second substitution when Dan Beaton came out and was replaced by Kiko Bondoso.
In the 79th minute, Zahavi made a nice clearance in the area and took control of a ball from a difficult angle, his kick from the air missed the goal post by inches. In the 80th minute, Cain introduced Usher Davida and Eden Kartsev in their first appearance since returning to wearing yellow in place of Joris van Overeem and Roy Rabivo.
Maccabi continued to pressure Kiuf’s goal and hoped to end the game in 90 minutes, but Peretz’s kick from 6 meters after a mix-up in the area was stopped by Kiuf and prevented the justified goal advantage. Kartsev’s kick in the 90th minute was also close to deciding the game but missed the right post and the game was decided by penalty kicks from 11 meters.
Penalties:
Eran Zahavi – inside
Sherry – My lips were pushed away
Kartsev – inside
Piero – My lips were pushed away
David – inside
Halaili – inside
Generation Peretz – outside
Korno – inside
Lucasan – inside
