Tonight (Sunday), the semi-finals of the state cup named after the late David Schweizer for children A were held at the Ramat Gan stadium, at the end of which the finalists for next month will be determined. In the title race, Maccabi Haifa, which defeated Hapoel Kfar Saba 0-1 in a goal by Hamid Mahmoud, will meet Maccabi Tel Aviv, which defeated MK Neve Yosef in overtime, who came as an underdog and fought throughout the game with a push from the crowd, but eventually surrendered. 2: 1 from an own goal in overtime.
In the early game between Haifa and Kfar Saba, the Haifa team took the lead from a beautiful goal by Mahmoud and kept it throughout the rest of the game. Kfar Saba was unable to conquer despite the heavy pressure it exerted, thanks to a beautiful display by Haifa substitute goalkeeper Shalev River, who came up in the half and gave some critical saves to the victory.
In the late game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Neve Yosef, the Yellows dominated throughout the match, but a great display by Elad Carlin, the northern goalkeeper, prevented them from taking advantage of the multiple attacks they had. In the end, a minute before the break, Raz Zilbert surprised everyone when he recognized the position of the opponent’s goalkeeper, and sent a long-range kick that went over the goalkeeper and inside.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Neve Yosef players (Hagai Michaeli)In the second half it was a different story and Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to control the game. This control also became the equalizer from the head of Ilai Ben Simon, and the game went into overtime, at the end of which Maccabi came out on top with a frustrating own goal by Magen Naveh, Yosef Liad Peer. Accordingly, the final will be held on April 6 at the Ramat Gan Stadium and will determine which of Maccabi Haifa and Maccabi Tel Aviv will hold the state cup in the name of the late David Schweizer for children A.
Minute 2: Attack of Maccabi Tel Aviv. A free-kick from the half-line went to Shprinsky’s head whose shot from close range was blocked to the corner.
Minute 4: Another free kick by the Yellows was taken by Zizov who lifted to the far post and Shprinsky went over everyone and hit the crossbar and out.
Ben Yonah opposite Yaakov Tesra (Hagai Michaeli)Minute 7: The Yellows came closer again. Maman took a free kick from the right and kicked nicely over the wall, but Carlin headed in and eventually also took control of the returning ball.
25 minutes: Another dangerous situation for Maccabi Tel Aviv. After quiet minutes, Maccabi returned to attack the goal and this time Hayat received a ball in the wing, passed two players as he entered the extension and in front of the goalkeeper from a difficult angle released a strong kick that was repelled to the corner by Carlin.
Elad Carlin (Hagai Michaeli)33 minutes: Neve Yosef’s first chance came in the corner when Hagai’s level created a mess in the box, Hadar punched the ball straight to the feet of Aribiya who touched the ball over the crossbar and out.
In the 35th minute, Neve Yosef went up to 0: 1: Out of nowhere the Blues took the lead just before the half-time whistle when the ball reached Zilbert after a mess in midfield, he recognized the goalkeeper’s bad position and sent a long-range kick that went over the goalkeeper and inside.
The Neve Yosef players are celebrating (Hagai Michaeli)
Maccabi Tel Aviv players are disappointed (Hagai Michaeli)Minute 39: Yellow attempt. An exchange of beautiful passes between Ben Simon and Brami arranged for Ben Simon an opportunity for a kick on the verge of an extension, but his kick was too strong over the goal.
In the 46th minute, Maccabi Tel Aviv equalized to 1: 1: After heavy pressure from the Yellows from the start of the second half, the equalizer came from a nice team attack that started with Shprinsky with a nice forward and delivery to the left wing to Maman, who provided an accurate level to Ben Simon who took control and slammed in.
Maccabi Tel Aviv players are celebrating (Hagai Michaeli)
Neve Yosef players are disappointed (Hagai Michaeli)53 minutes: Another attack by Maccabi Tel Aviv. Tesra led the attack forward and after passing a player, found Ben Simon in the box but Carlin took control of the latter’s kick.
54 min: Again it was the collaboration between Tesra and Ben Simon when a double pass between them left Ben Simon free on the verge of an extension and the latter sent a powerful kick to the corner of the goal, but Carlin was again in place and pushed the ball out.
57 min: Yellow attempt. Animals got the ball in the wing and after a nice personal move where two players passed on the way to the field, Animals kicked a powerful ball to the near corner but again Carlin was in place and caught the ball.
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Neve Yosef players in the fight for the ball (Hagai Michaeli)
Artyom Shprinski with the ball (Hagai Michaeli)64 minutes: Almost the second of Maccabi Tel Aviv. Ben Simon’s free kick went into the frame but was too weak and Carlin took control of the ball.
67 min: The Yellows are dangerous. A good join from behind Shprinsky led the ball to him and from a distance sent a missile to the connections that was repulsed at the last minute by Carlin
70 minutes: Tesra galloped forward with the ball unhindered, and kicked from a distance a ball that went a little over the crossbar.
Jacob Tesra with the ball (Hagai Michaeli)
Jacob Tesra slams (Hagai Michaeli)73 minutes: A nice attack by Maccabi Tel Aviv that started with Tesra came to luck that brought down Ben Simon in a comfortable position for the kick, the latter threatened to the far corner, but Carlin continued his excellent game and headed to the corner.
In the 75th minute, Maccabi Tel Aviv went up to 1: 2: On the verge of the half-time whistle the Yellows scored the goal that was in the air. The level from the right wing created confusion in the Neve Yosef plaza and the ball hit Peer and entered his goal. Self-goal for the player.
Maccabi Tel Aviv players celebrate the victory gate (Hagai Michaeli)Maccabi Neve Yosef staff: Elad Carlin, Edward Jiris, Ido Hadar, Raz Zilbert, Itai Hagai, Ben Yonah, Gilad Meltzer, Rom Eden, Liad Peer, Matan Friganti, Ram Sheffer, Rotem Eini, Sahar Bachar, Kimi Yahav, Idan Shoshan, Hod Kalev.
Maccabi Tel Aviv staff: Roi Hadar, Shachar Drori, Leroy Abribaya, Koren Maman, Uri Mazal, Eden Hayat, Yaakov Tesra, Ilai Ben Simon, Mato Zizov, Itai Barami, Artium Shprinsky, Nadav Herbert, Ido Hayut, Nikolai Churokov
In the second semi-final, as mentioned, the Haifa team recorded a small victory that arranged for them the long-awaited ticket to the cup final against the Yellows.
Minute 3: KPS experience. A loss of a ball in the Haifa defense came to Besson who passed two and from an extension kicked a ball that passed near the crossbar and out.
In the 8th minute, Maccabi Haifa went up to 0: 1: Mahmoud received a praise ball on the left wing and after entering the middle, kicked a powerful ball from 30 meters that went over the goalkeeper and went into the net.
Maccabi Haifa players are celebrating (Hagai Michaeli)
Maccabi Haifa players are celebrating (Hagai Michaeli)Minute 14: Attack of Maccabi Haifa. Abu Lil received the ball on the wing and his level attempt turned towards the goal and passed over the crossbar.
16th minute: A Haifa breakaway that started with Hermoni eventually came back to him, and he sent a kick with a touch on the verge of an extension, but his ball went over the goal.
27th minute: After long minutes in which both teams mostly moved a ball, a long ball from the Kfar Saba defense reached Hillel in front of a goalkeeper from a hard angle with a kick near the crossbar and out.
Target Chen with the ball (Hagai Michaeli)33 minutes: Good pressure from Hapoel Kfar Saba’s attack led to the abduction of Besson who took the ball towards the goal and an extension kick with a strong kick, but over the goal.
Minute 43: Experience of KPS. After a touchdown by the goalkeeper outside the box, Yaakov kicked a free-kick that went just over the crossbar.
45th minute: After pressure from Hapoel Kfar Saba, a return ball from the Haifa defense was taken by Besson who ran with the ball to the goal, but his kick was repelled to the corner by Raver.
54 min: KPS continued to be more dangerous. A free kick by Kfar Saba was taken by Weld who found Shragayan’s head and the latter hit nicely though, but the ball was caught by Raver.
Eviatar Hillel opposite Nadav Rachlevsky (Hagai Michaeli)Minute 57: Again the players in black. The pressure from Kfar Sabaim continued with a long outside ball that reached the substitute Eileen and with a touch he put a beautiful ball into the extension to Besson, but he kicked out close.
64 minutes: Kfar Saba’s level to the field found the Haifa defense confused and Besson came close to the ball and kicked to the goal, but again Raver was there and caught.
71 minutes: Another opportunity for Hapoel Kfar Saba to equalize came when a long ball came to Besson who took over and in the round kicked a strong ball that went over the crossbar and out.
Hapoel Kafas players are disappointed (Hagai Michaeli)Maccabi Haifa staff: Amit Rash, Muhammad Abu Lil, Muhammad Gadir, Yuval Gutman, Yahli Hermoni, Yoel Ran, Mahmoud Hamid, Yair Safranovich, Oz Golan, Nitai Amram, Nadav Rachlevsky, Shalio Reiber, Yuval Zelanzer, Shane Bistritzky, Khaled Habiballah.
Staff Hapoel Kafas: Yair Mesika, Niv Besson, Amir Borlenchenko, Eviatar Hillel, Noam Wiltowski, Eliad Wald, Liad Chen, Noam Tohar, Ben Yaberbaum, Noam Ahul, Yair Shragaian, Noam Yaakov, Rotem Shani, Yaniv Eilin, Idan Zoref.
Maccabi Haifa players are celebrating (Hagai Michaeli)