Kiryat Shemona defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv on penalty kicks to capture the Champions Cup at the Netanya Stadium. The match which ended 1:1 after 90 minutes finished 2:2 after the extra time periods and was decided on penalties 5:4.
Coach Slavisa Jokanovic gave new recruit Eli Dasa the start at right back while Shlomi Azulay came in as a second half substitute for the Yellow-and-Blue. Also starting were 'keeper Juan Pablo, Tal Ben Haim, Eitan Tibi and Omri Ben Harush. In the midfield Gal Alberman, Nosa Igiebor and Nikola Mitrovic provided the support for wingers Avi Rikan and Tal Ben Chaim as well as Eran Zahavi.
After a quiet first frame the match began to open up during the second half as Maccabi getting a number of opportunities to especially when Luis Gutieres was sent off with a second yellow card in the 59th minute giving the title holders a one man advantage for the balance of the match.
After a number of chances by Eran Zahavi and Ben Chaim, the captain took matters into his own hands and unleashed a perfect right-footed shot to the top left hand corner of Guy Haimov's goal. The ball was just out of the reach of the Kiryat Shemona 'keeper to give the Yellow-and-Blue a 1:0 lead in the 70th minute. However, the lead was short lived as just three minutes later Dean Maimoni's one-timer in the box off a Kiryat Shemona corner kick evened up the score at 1:1 and the match headed that way into the extra time period.
In the first extra time period Omri Ben Harush made an amazing run into the box and centered the ball to Zahavi who jumped at the deflection off of Roie Shuktani to give Maccabi Tel Aviv a 2:1 lead in the 103rd minute. But Ahmed Abed's cheeky backheel coming from a throw in drew Kiryat Shemona even again at 2:2 as the match headed into penalty kicks.
Maccabi captain Zahavi's penalty was saved by Haimov and Abed's for Kiryat Shemona by Juan Pablo. Defender Ben Haim's kick found the back of the goal as did Casio Fernandes making it 1:1 after two rounds. Winger Ben Chaim slotted home his chance as Haimov guessed the side correctly but couldn't stop his hard shot. Eden Shamir made his penalty for Kiryat Shemona as Shlomi Azulay did as well, scoring on his kick in his Maccabi debut.
Din Maimoni evened up the penalty score at 3:3 after the fourth round while Barak Itzhaki and a Vova Brown converted their chances. Dor Micha's chance was saved by Haimov and Eli Balliti penalty goal sent the Northern club, Kiryat Shemona home with the Champions Cup.
