Maccabi Tel Aviv Defeats Maccabi Haifa 3-2 to Reach State Cup Final
Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over rival Maccabi Haifa in the Israel State Cup semifinal, advancing to the final against Hapoel Beersheba. The match, known as the Israeli Classico, took place at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem under restricted attendance conditions, with only approximately 5,000 fans allowed due to Home Front Command regulations. Dor Peretz opened the scoring for Maccabi Tel Aviv, but Eitan Azulay equalized for Haifa before halftime. The turning point came after Maccabi coach Ronny Delia made a triple substitution, injecting fresh energy into the attack. Tyrese Asante headed in a corner from Roy Revivo to restore the lead, and Revivo later scored himself to make it 3-1. Although Silva Kani pulled one back late for Maccabi Haifa, the effort was insufficient to change the outcome. The win sets up a final clash for the coveted trophy, marking a significant moment in Israeli football despite the unusually quiet atmosphere caused by limited fan presence.
Wire timeline
Maccabi Tel Aviv Defeats Maccabi Haifa 3-2 to Reach State Cup Final
Maccabi Tel Aviv secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over rival Maccabi Haifa in the Israel State Cup semifinal, advancing to the final against Hapoel Beersheba. The match, known as the Israeli Classico, took place at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem under restricted attendance conditions, with only approximately 5,000 fans allowed due to Home Front Command regulations. Dor Peretz opened the scoring for Maccabi Tel Aviv, but Eitan Azulay equalized for Haifa before halftime. The turning point came after Maccabi coach Ronny Delia made a triple substitution, injecting fresh energy into the attack. Tyrese Asante headed in a corner from Roy Revivo to restore the lead, and Revivo later scored himself to make it 3-1. Although Silva Kani pulled one back late for Maccabi Haifa, the effort was insufficient to change the outcome. The win sets up a final clash for the coveted trophy, marking a significant moment in Israeli football despite the unusually quiet atmosphere caused by limited fan presence.
JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - All News from the Middle East, Israel, and the Jewish World