Bnei Yehuda wins with a spectacular bicycle kick, F.C. Ashdod starts with a victory
Following two rounds of the Premier League's Toto Cup, the National League's Toto Cup kicked off this Thursday with eight opening matches. The highlight of the round came from Group C, where Bnei Yehuda conceded after just eight seconds but rallied to defeat Ironi Modiin 1:3, capped by a brilliant bicycle kick from Sagi Dror.
After two rounds in the Premier League's Toto Cup, this evening (Thursday) the National League's Toto Cup also kicked off with the eight matches of the first round.
The biggest moment of the round came from Group C. Bnei Yehuda hosted Ironi Modiin in the Hatikva neighborhood and conceded after just eight seconds to Tomer Benvenisti, but Avihai Wodja, who made the move between the clubs, was sent off with a second yellow card in the 37th minute. This move led to an equalizer by Stav Nahmani, who headed in after a cross from the left by Raz Nachmias. The comeback was completed by Sagi Dror, who scored with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 52nd minute after a cross by Sahar Dabah, and in the 71st minute, Nahmani was accurate from the penalty spot with his second goal, setting the score at 1:3 for Bnei Yehuda. In the parallel match, M.S. Kafr Qasim won 1:2 in Bat Yam against Hapoel Kafr Shalem with goals from Nour Badir and Julio Cesar.
F.C. Ashdod, the relegated team from the Premier League that featured Dor Micha in the lineup, began its journey in Group D with a 1:2 win at the Yud-Alef Stadium over Maccabi Kiryat Gat, the promoted team from Liga Alef South. Defender Ran Vaturi, who arrived from Maccabi Herzliya, scored in the fifth minute and Ili Tamam doubled the lead in the 23rd minute. Amir Altori narrowed the gap for the visitors in the 58th minute. There was a goal fest in Ness Ziona, where Maccabi Jaffa beat Hapoel Rishon LeZion 2:4. Goran Antonić (3), Dor Jan (30), Ron Talmi (62), and Itay Zada (70) scored for the winners, while Ezekiel Henty (18) and Eligijus Jankauskas (60) scored for the losers.
In Group B, both hosts also won. Maccabi Herzliya, which almost promoted to the Premier League last season, returned to host at the municipal stadium after a long period and beat Hapoel Ra'anana 0:2. At the same time, Hapoel Kfar Saba won 1:3 at Levita against Hapoel Afula thanks to a brace by Roy Boganim (7 and 13) and a goal by substitute Ravid Olitzky (71). Ahmed Khalaila equalized temporarily (10).
Group A did not produce even a single goal. The relegated Maccabi Bnei Reineh, despite an experienced lineup, settled for a 0:0 draw in Nof HaGalil against Hapoel Acre. M.S. Kiryat Yam finished its match in Acre at 0:0 against the promoted Maccabi Ahi Nazareth, from whose ranks the veteran Amjad Suleiman was sent off in stoppage time.
