The state champion marked “V”: Maccabi Haifa qualified for the round of 16 of the state cup this evening (Monday), after a narrow 0:1 victory over Hapoel Nof HaGalil at the Green Stadium. Muhammad Abu Fani scored the winning goal in the 39th minute, and that was enough for Barak Bakr and his players to advance further against the team from the National League. Now, Haifa will wait for the eighth draw – which will take place tomorrow and prepare for a return to the Premier League – where they will meet Bnei Sakhnin in Sami Ofer for the 14th round.
And from the Maccabi Haifa coach’s point of view, Barak Bacherthe greens definitely marked V: “In the end, you have to pass,” he said at the end, and as for the game he said: “The game was so lethargic, we didn’t create too many things and everything was slow. Glad we got through it safely in terms of injuries, that was the most important “.
Bakr also reassured about one of Maccabi Haifa’s key players: “I estimate that Charon Shari, who was sick, will be fit for the game on Monday (against Bnei Sakhnin). Neta Lavi should also return to the squad, and Haziza and Sondgren will also return soon. I Hopefully we’ll have a fuller roster, that’s what we’re hoping for.”
conqueror of the triumphal arch, Muhammad Abu Fani, summed up the game for him: “We are happy about the victory, it was a very difficult game against a team that surprised us, but the most important thing was to pass.” As for his ability, the Maccabi Haifa midfielder said: “Despite all the shortcomings, every player with us deserves to be in the team. There is a coach who decides and there is competition.”
On the side of the loser, coach Hapoel Nof HaGalil Yaron Hochneboim He concluded: “We are not a good team this year, we played against the best team in Israel. We had a respectable performance, considering there was a penalty and we reached two 100 percent situations. I have been a coach since the age of 23, and my team has never closed so far behind. Maccabi Haifa is an excellent team, And she deserves to go all the way.”