The Yellow & Blue notched a 3:0 victory over Bnei Yehuda in the quarterfinals of the Toto Cup to advance to the semifinals of the competition on goals by Eliran Atar, Nick Blackman via penalty and a brilliant chip shot by Avi Rikan from 20 meters.
Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with Yuval Shpungin, Egor Filipenka, Eitan Tibi and Matan Baltaxa on defense. Tino Susic, Dor Peretz and Omer Atzily were in the midfield while Nick Blackman, Eliran Atar and Or Dasa were up front.
Available on the bench were: Daniel Tenenbaum, Avi Rikan, Tal Ben Haim, Christian Battocchio, Sheran Yeini, Eylon Almog, Vidar Kjartansson
First Half
Maccabi looked to get on the board early as Blackman and Dasa tried a give and go but the latter’s attempt went over the bar in the 2’. Bnei Yehuda tried to send a through ball in the 8’ but Rajiko was able to grab it while 10 minutes later Yuval Ashkenazi’s attempt went over the bar and Blackman was issued a yellow card. In the 24’ Matan Hozez’s opportunity was sent out by Rajikovic and Ayed Habsbi was handed a yellow.
Hozez, who is on loan from Maccabi sent a deep ball to Valksis in the 32’ but his chance was saved by Rajikovic while 9 minutes later Dan Mori was handed a yellow card by the referee. Eliran Atar then stepped up to take the 23 meter free kick and found the back of the goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead. However, Susic was given a red card for pulling down Eliel Peretz on his way to the goal a minute later but luckily for the Yellow & Blue, Dovev Gabbay missed the penalty as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Avi Rikan entered the match for Atzily to begin the half. In the 49’ Dasa left the ball for Blackman but his attempt was saved by the Bnei Yehuda keeper Zubas. Dasa and Peretz each had chances while Atar almost scored his 2nd of the game when his attempt missed the goal by centimeters. Ofir Davidzada entered the match for Baltaxa in the 62’ minute and then Dasa was pulled down in the box by Eli Blility good for a red card and a penalty, but Blackman’s spot kick was saved by a diving Zoubas to his left in the 66’.
In the 71’ Dasa left a wonderful back heel for Atar but Zoubas made a brilliant save while Shpungin collected a yellow card. Five minutes later Dasa was again tripped up in the box and Blackman coolly converted the penalty for a 2:0 Maccabi lead. With Maccabi looking for a 3rd goal, they found it in fine fashion as Rikan chipped the ball over Zoubas from 20 meters in 78’ for a 3:0 advantage. Cristian Battocchio and Eylon Almog both came on in the 82’ for Blackman and Atar while Vidar Kjartansson entered the match in the 89’ for a Dasa who was magnificent as Maccabi wrapped a 3:0 win a trip to the Toto Cup semifinals.
