Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv will host M.S. Ashdod tonight at Bloomfield Stadium for the Eighth Round of the State Cup. Ahead of the clash, we have gathered all the statistics, history between the teams, and interesting details you need to know before kickoff.
Hapoel Tel Aviv puts the league campaign on hold tonight (Thursday) and shifts its focus. The club joins the State Cup cycle in the Eighth Round, hosting M.S. Ashdod at Bloomfield Stadium with the clear objective of securing a spot in the Round of 16.
On the professional front, the coaching staff will have to manage without Lucas Falcao, who is serving a suspension and will not be included in the squad. Conversely, Roy Elkokin and Yazen Nassar return to the squad after completing their suspensions from the last match.
Season Head-to-Head The two teams have met twice in official competitions this season, with Hapoel having the upper hand in both instances: The first encounter took place during the Toto Cup group stage at Bloomfield Stadium, where Hapoel demonstrated superiority with a 2-0 victory. Daniel Dappa scored the opener in the 22nd minute, and Ran Binyamin sealed the result deep into stoppage time (96).
The second meeting, held on Matchday 4 of the League at the Yud-Alef Stadium in Ashdod, turned into an unforgettable offensive display. Hapoel returned from the port city with a crushing 6-2 away victory. The scorers that evening were: Daniel Dappa (7), Roy Elkokin with a brace (13, 36), an own goal (29), Stav Turiel (42), and Chico Alves (77).
Match Information
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Date: Thursday, December 25, 2025, 20:00
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Competition: State Cup, Eighth Round
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Venue: Bloomfield Stadium
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Main Referee: Aviel Levi
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Assistant Referees: Omer Barbiro, Tuval Koltanoff
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Fourth Official: Nael Odeh
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Broadcast: Sport 5 HD
History Tells Us Hapoel and M.S. Ashdod are veteran rivals, having met 80 times to date in all official competitions. In the State Cup framework, the two have met three times. Below is the breakdown of the encounters:
Full Record:
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3 Matches
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3 Wins for Hapoel
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Goal Difference: 5-0 to Hapoel
Home Record (Hapoel hosting):
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2 Matches
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2 Wins for Hapoel
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Goal Difference: 2-0 to Hapoel
A reminder of the three State Cup encounters:
1. Ninth Round (2003): Omri Afek Makes the Difference On March 22, 2003, Hapoel met Ashdod in the Ninth Round. The game was largely balanced, but in the 66th minute, Omri Afek’s moment arrived. The midfielder found the net, broke the deadlock, and secured a crucial 1-0 victory that was enough to send Hapoel to the next stage.
2. Round of 16 (2006): The Great Away Performance Three years later, on March 4, 2006, the teams met again, this time in the Round of 16 at the Yud-Alef Stadium. The floodgates opened in the second half: Shay Abutbul started the celebration in the 54th minute, Elyaniv Barda doubled the lead 8 minutes later (62), and Ilya Yavruyan hammered the final nail in the 84
3. Semi-Final (2007): The Goal Worth a Final The most memorable and significant encounter took place on May 9, 2007. The setting: The State Cup Semi-Final. At stake: A ticket to the Grand Final at Ramat Gan Stadium. Hapoel didn't wait long. Already in the 4th minute, defender Tal Chen was in the right place to score a lightning-fast goal. The early lead (1-0) was maintained until the final whistle. This victory paved the way for the Cup win in that unforgettable season