New recruit Haris Medunjanin showed his quality in a 3:0 away victory in the State Cup quarterfinals first leg at Levita Stadium in Kfar Saba. The Bosnian scored the match’s first goal and picked up an assist on Dor Micha’s marker while Eden Ben Basat also found the back of the home team’s goal.
Head Coach Peter Bosz began the match with a similar Starting XI to the one which 
opened the Derby earlier in the week, however there were a few of wrinkles thrown in for good measure. Nosa Igiebor started in the midfield after being suspended last match, Avi Rikan went to left back and Eden Ben Basat featured as a striker up front. Predrag Rajkovic put on the goalkeeper’s gloves for the first time in State Cup play while a defensive quartet of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Omri Ben Harush and Rikan played in front of the Serbian shot stopper. Gal Alberman was in his customary defensive midfield position with Haris Medunjanin and Igiebor by his side as winger Tal Ben Chaim along with Ben Basat and captain Eran Zahavi provided the attack.
Haris Medunjanin came into the match looking to make a mark since returning to the club after a number of seasons in Europe. In the 5th minute his corner kick almost 
directly beat the Green’s keeper Ben Rahav as it hit the bar and just two minutes later his 22 meter effort went straight into the hands of the awaiting Rahav. It was then Tibi’s turn, taking a Ben Chaim pass and missing from close range with a backheel attempt.
Kfar Saba then had a couple of opportunities as Omer Padida’s effort was grabbed by Rajikovic and Mavis Tchibota’s free kick play to Hugo Lopez was finger tipped to safety by the Serbian keeper. With Maccabi looking to strike first, Zahavi’s 21st minute chance from 25 meters was saved by Rahav and his opportunity three minutes later was kicked out for a corner by the home team’s keeper. However, the match wouldn’t remain goalless for much longer.
As the clock struck minute 33, Maccabi raced downfield on a magnificent counterattack led by Rikan. Number 22 handed the ball off to Zahavi who sent Medunjanin a perfect pass as the Bosnian unleashed a scintillating shot to beat Rahav from 18 meters out for 
a 1:0 lead. The two sides traded chances for the balance of the half as they went into the break with the Yellow-and-Blue holding the one goal advantage.
Kfar Saba looked to even up the match at the start of half number two, but Tchibota’s chance was saved by Rajkovic in the 46th minute. On the other side of the pitch, visiting Maccabi wanted to find a second away goal in the first leg of the two-legged tie and find it they would.
In the 54th minute Dasa streaked down the right side and placed a perfect pass into the box right to feet of Ben Basat who easily scored from close range to give the Yellow-and-Blue a 2:0 advantage. Kfar Saba searched to cut the lead but Tchibota’s three opportunities over a 12 minute span couldn’t find the back of the Maccabi goal.
In the 78th minute, Igiebor missed a brilliant chance after Medunjanin’s corner kick was brought down by Ben Basat’s head, but the Nigerian’s effort went right over the goal. Coach Bosz made wholesale substitutions late in the game introducing Yoav Ziv, Dor
Peretz and Dor Micha who also added his name to the scoresheet late in the match.
In the 88th minute, Zahavi laid off a perfect pass to Medunjanin who one-touched the ball to Micha as number 15 launched a rocket behind a diving Rahav to put the final stamp on a 3:0 away victory. The second leg of the two-legend quarterfinal tie will be played in three weeks at Bloomfield Stadium.
