In a match that featured a debut goal by Orlando Sa, another bicycle kick strike by Zahavi, a red card to Ben Harush and extra time, Maccabi was able to find a way past Leumit outfit Rishon Le’Zion at Haberfeld Stadium. The 2:1 victory sends the Yellow-and-Blue to the quarterfinals against Hapoel Kfar Saba in a two legged tie in the months of February and March.
Head Coach Peter Bosz made a number of changes from the starting lineup that defeated Maccabi Petach Tikva this past Saturday night as the Dutchman handed keeper Daniel Lifshitz his second start in the competition. In front of the Swedish born shot stopper was a defense consisting of Eli Dasa, Omri Ben Harush, Tal Ben Haim and Eitan Tibi. Gal Alberman, Shlomi Azulay and Avi Rikan were the midfielders with Eden Ben Basat, Dor Micha and Captain Eran Zahavi playing up front.
The Yellow-and-Blue came out roaring and took the game to hosts during the first 
quarter hour of the match. Ben Basat had the club’s opening opportunity as his header went over the bar in the 9th minute. That was followed by a Shlomi Azulay effort that went wide right two minutes later and a pair of long efforts by Ben Harush and Dasa that couldn’t find the back of the goal.
However, Rishon did just that at the opposite end of the pitch. After a hard foul by Ben Haim just outside of the box, Muhamad Abu El Iga gave his side a 1:0 lead in the 21st minute on a perfect free kick. The Rishon Le’Zion defender cleanly beat Lifshitz, pounding the ball into the top left hand side of the goal.
Maccabi looked for an equalizer as Ben Harush’s long range scorcher went over the 
goal while two Zahavi free kicks from just outside of the box couldn’t beat Rishon keeper Matan Ambar. Yuval Shpungin was introduced in the 33rd minute coming on for an injured Ben Haim as the Yellow-and-Blue went into the lockerroom down by a goal at the break.
Maccabi coach Peter Bosz made his second substitution of the match bringing on new acquisition Orlando Sa for Azulay to begin the half as he looked to jump start his club’s offense. Zahavi had an opportunity from short range but the Rishon keeper was in the right place to pick up the ball in the 58th minute. Minutes later Sa and Zahavi each had a chance to tie up the game but the former fanned on the ball and the latter hit the bar. Then Alberman drilled a 70th minute effort off of the bar as Maccabi came closer and closer to the Rishon goal.
With less than twenty minutes left in the match, Bosz made his final substitution bringing on striker Barak Itzhaki for Rikan as number 10 joined the attacking fray. And what would you know, Maccabi would score the equalizer just seconds later. Eli Dasa swung the ball into the box from the right side and Sa headed the ball past Ambar as the striker paid dividends in his first appearance with his new club drawing Maccabi even in the 74th minute.
Zahavi had an incredible chance to give his side the lead but his 77th minute was pawed away by Ambar and Ben Basat’s header chance in the 85th minute went over the bar as the match headed into extra time tied at 1:1.
As the match headed into extra time Maccabi looked for a hero. And who else could it be but none other than Eran Zahavi. In the 101st minute the captain took a Micha pass and 
went airborne to bicycle kick the ball into the goal to give the Yellow-and-Blue a 2:1 lead. But just before the first extra time half ended Ben Harush was shown red for pulling down the last Rishon attacker before the Maccabi goal giving the hosts an extra man for the balance of the 120 minute period.
Rishon looked to find the tying goal but 10-man Maccabi was able to hold on and advance to the quieter finals of the State Cup against Hapoel Kfar Saba.
