The semi-final status of the handball state cup has arrived. This coming Tuesday (7:30 p.m.), last season’s title devourers Hapoel Ashdod, who also won the cup last season, will go to a fiery red match against Hapoel Rasheltz.
Ashdod, in an unstable season at all in the league, will meet the leader of the table, Hapoel Rashalz, in a match for the whole pot in the semi-finals of the State Cup. The winner advances to the final.
The match between Ashdod and Rashlac brings with it a great history that began in the 2018-19 season, when Hapoel Rashlac served as a dualist, and Ashdod stripped it of both titles – first with a victory after two overtimes and 80 minutes in a crazy game that ended 34:35 In Nachalat Yehuda, with an equalizing goal in the last nine shot of Novak Boskovich, peace be upon him.
An equalizing goal by Gabor Langhans that led to a second overtime – and a decision with a winning goal by Omri Kushmaro.
This game was completely a crossroads, and after that Ashdod defeated Hapoel Rasheltz in the semi-finals of the playoffs on the way to its historic championship win and later on the titles it won in recent years.
On the other hand, Hapoel Rashlat, the most decorated club in the history of Israeli handball, has not won any titles since then – and now wants to make amends after last season it also did not reach the semifinals of the State Cup and the semifinals of the playoffs.
Hapoel Rosh Lat had a great start to the season and showed a lot of character. Ashdod, on the other hand, is struggling and is only ranked fifth in the league – and so far there have been 3 meetings between the two.
Each of them was tighter than the other. In the first – Ashdod won by plus two goals in the Winner-Judges Cup, which they won.
In the second, Hapoel Rashlat won in Ashdod by a goal as part of the league – and only last Wednesday the two met in the upper house in a game that ended in a tie with Bazer – 26:26.
Wakievich from Ashdod said before the game: “We come to play, to have fun, this is a holiday. We worked very hard to reach this position in a difficult season for us.
We have to face and give our best. Hapoel Rishon is an amazing team, with a very high quality coach, and we have a lot of respect for them. What is the difference between the groups? Hapoel Rishon has a glorious tradition, but we have more experience in this class in recent years.
My team is full of players who have won championships and trophies. We know how to play in these positions, and we know them. Hapoel Rosh Lach has not only its own qualities, but also new energies and a hunger to win titles.
This is a game where I believe our defense and goalkeepers will excel, as we did last season in the cup final. I don’t attach importance to the fact that the game was held in Israel – the field is equal for everyone – it’s a festive and exciting day for the 4 participating teams.”