Maccabi Tel Aviv has ended its round in the Toto Cup tournament tonight after losing 1-0 to HaPoel Haifa in the quarter finals. As we know, the first encounter between the teams ended with a 2-2 tie score and even a 1-1 tie in the home game would have been enough to make it to the semi-finals. After a weak first half, Oscar made several changes, but they were to no avail, after Ilan Rankovich set the score of the game only 15 minutes after it started. Now, Oscar Garcia's players will have time to prepare for the second round of the league, with Maccabi Haifa waiting for them in Kiryat Eliezer on Monday.
Maccabi's coach, Oscar Garcia, opened with Abu-Zaid, Dahan and Lugasi in midfield, with Earnshaw, who scored in the last game, making up a forward trio with Micha and Gonzalo. Nevertheless, the game did not reach a high point and just 15 minutes into it, the guest team scored the advantage. Ran Abukarat took advantage of a mistake in Maccabi's defense, passed Steve Gohouri who opened as a defender for the first time and kicked a ball that was saved by Barak Levi. However, Rankovich headed the ball into an empty goal. The slow pace continued after the goal and the yellow team failed to threaten Kale Dreshler's goal. After 45 disappointing minutes, the yellow team went into halftime, knowing that they must score the tying goal in order to move on to the next stage.
At the beginning of the second half, Oscar made three substitutions and put Alberman and Radi into the midfield, and Moanes Dabour into the offensive line. The yellow team took over the field and started to pressure the guest into its section. 30 minutes to the end of the game, Gael Marguelis replaced Dor Micha in order to increase the pressure, but HaPoel Haifa was more decisive in its offensive game. Oscar tried everything, he even sent Steve Gohouri to lead the offensive line, but the goal did not appear. Maccabi Tel Aviv loses 1-0 and says goodbye to the Toto Cup in the quarter final stage.
