Maccabi Tel Aviv downs Haifa in Classico to reach State Cup final
MACCABI TEL AVIV players celebrate their 3-2 victory over Maccabi Haifa in the State Cup semifinal at Teddy Stadium. (photo credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN) The Israeli Classico, one of the biggest matches that the Holy Land can offer between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, is always an anticipated clash. Maccabi Tel Aviv bested Maccabi Haifa 3-2 to punch its ticket to the Israel State Cup final, where it will meet Hapoel Beersheba.
Dor Peretz opened the scoring, but Eitan Azulay found the equalizer as the first half ended all knotted up at 1-1. After a triple substitution by Ronny Delia, Tyrese Asante gave the yellow-and-blue the lead while Roy Revivo doubled the advantage. Silva Kani pulled back a late goal for Barak Bachar’s side, which wasn’t enough as Maccabi closed out the victory.
The Israeli Classico, one of the biggest matches that the Holy Land can offer between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, is always an anticipated clash that attracts fans from not only the two rivals but from across the spectrum. That’s especially true when the contest also happens to be part of the Cup, as was the case this year when the two met in the semifinals at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. However, this version of the Classico was unlike any of the others due to the number of fans being limited by the Home Front Command to roughly 5,000.
Prior to a massive game in the capital that would normally attract 30,000 supporters, the shopping center and local establishments would be teeming with people taking up every nook and cranny. With only a fraction of that number, that was certainly not the case as restaurants were not busy and parking, which is usually at a premium in the area, was fairly easy to find. The same was true when entering the stadium with Maccabi Tel Aviv fans in the south stand, Maccabi Haifa supporters in the north stand, and the VIPs located in the west stand.
A serene quiet could be felt around the stadium at halftime as both sets of supporters needed a few minutes to take a breather after an exhilarating half that saw chances galore at both ends. GONZALEZ SCORES for Beitar Jerusalem just 30 seconds into the derby, sending his club on its way to a 2-0 win. (credit: YEHUDA HALICKMAN) Cedric Don, who used to dance on this same field for Hapoel Jerusalem , had the chance of a lifetime to give the Greens the lead, but somehow he sent the ball way over the bar.