The qualifiers are set: Ashdod will face Bnei Yehuda in the Toto Cup semi-finals
The group stage of the Toto Cup in the National League concluded this Thursday with Hapoel Acre, Maccabi Herzliya, Bnei Yehuda, and Ashdod advancing to the semi-finals.
The group stage of the Toto Cup in the National League concluded this Thursday with Hapoel Acre, Maccabi Herzliya, Bnei Yehuda, and Ashdod advancing to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals:
Bnei Yehuda - Ashdod
Maccabi Herzliya - Hapoel Acre
Ranking matches:
Places 5-8: Ironi Modiin - Maccabi Jaffa
Places 5-8: Hapoel Kfar Saba - M.S. Kiryat Yam
Places 9-12: M.S. Kafr Qasim - Hapoel Rishon Lezion
Places 9-12: Hapoel Ra'anana - Maccabi Ahi Nazareth
Places 13-16: Hapoel Kfar Shalem - Maccabi Kiryat Gat
Places 13-16: Hapoel Afula - Maccabi Bnei Reineh
Ashdod finished as the only team with a perfect record after a 1-0 home win over Hapoel Rishon Lezion in Group D. Dor Micha came off the bench and assisted another substitute, Ebenezer Mamatah, for the winning goal in the 64th minute. In the parallel match, Maccabi Kiryat Gat and Maccabi Jaffa drew 2-2 in Rehovot. Arad Bar (33) and Guy Dahan (65) turned the game around for Kiryat Gat after a goal by Guy Yitzhaki (2), but substitute Daniel Maya equalized for Jaffa (71).
Bnei Yehuda maintained the top spot in Group C thanks to a 1-1 draw in the neighborhood derby against Hapoel Kfar Shalem. Yuval Piven headed in the lead for the Oranges after a cross from Sagi Dror in the 17th minute, and Yoav Khunio assisted with a through ball to Itay Barhom, who equalized in the 44th minute in the Hatikva neighborhood. In the parallel match, Ironi Modiin won 2-1 in Lod against M.S. Kafr Qasim. Julio Cesar gave the visitors the lead in the 23rd minute, but Amir Sabag (29) and substitute Luka Stor (81) turned the game around.
Maccabi Herzliya was on the verge of losing the ticket to the semi-finals, but Ziv Lee equalized (80) to 1-1 away against Hapoel Afula (for whom Raz Twizer scored in the 68th minute) and kept the top of Group B with seven points. If Herzliya had lost, Hapoel Kfar Saba would have overtaken them on goal difference after thrashing Hapoel Ra'anana 5-1. Yoav Solell (27 and 71) and Roy Buganim (58 and 70) scored braces, and Ravid Olicki added one (34). Wanderson Yakubu scored the consolation goal (68).
M.S. Kiryat Yam, who reached the Toto Cup final of the National League last season, lost the top spot in Group A following a 1-0 loss to Hapoel Acre, for whom Shlomi Azulay scored again (51). Acre advanced with five points from first place, while Kiryat Yam remained with four in second place. In the parallel match, Maccabi Bnei Reineh and Maccabi Ahi Nazareth drew 1-1. Abdallah Jaber scored for the team relegated from the Premier League in the 12th minute, and Fadi Najjar equalized in the 70th minute.
