Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv defeated Beitar Jerusalem this evening in a penalty shootout in the Toto Cup Quarter-Finals (European Route) to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. Assaf Tzur saved three penalties.
Hapoel faced Beitar Jerusalem this evening (Saturday) at the Netanya Stadium in the Toto Cup Quarter-Finals (European Route). Following a dramatic 90 minutes that ended in a 2-2 draw in the final seconds, the Reds secured their ticket to the next round via a penalty shootout, thanks to a heroic performance by Assaf Tzur, advancing to the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
The first half opened evenly, but in the 19th minute, Hapoel translated their capability into a lead following a wonderful set-piece routine: Stav Turiell crossed an accurate ball into the box, Emmanuel Boateng headed it toward Chico, who nodded it home to make it 1-0 for the Reds.
The lead did not last long, and just four minutes later (23'), the opponents managed to find the equalizer.
In the second half, the team from Jerusalem took control of the tempo and was awarded a penalty in the 76th minute, which they converted to turn the scoreline to 2-1.
Just as the match seemed to be slipping away from Hapoel, the final play of the game arrived deep in injury time: a free-kick was lofted into the box, Andrian Kraev headed it backward, and the ball reached Daniel Dafa, who poked home the dramatic and highly anticipated equalizer from close range—a fantastic 2-2 that sent the teams to a penalty shootout.
The penalty shootout saw the beginning of the big Assaf Tzur show. Yonatan Perber stepped up first for Hapoel and scored, and the opponents equalized with their first kick. Mor Buskila confidently converted the Reds' second penalty, and from that point on, Tzur locked down the goal, stunningly saving three consecutive penalties from the opposition. In between, Chico scored the third spot-kick, and although Emmanuel Boateng missed the fourth, Tzur's third straight save sealed the sweet victory.
Following the dramatic victory, Hapoel advances to the Toto Cup Semi-Finals for the second consecutive year, where they await their opponent, which is yet to be determined.
Hapoel Lineup: Assaf Tzur, Marcus Coco, Fernand Mayembo, Chico Alves, Doron Leidner (Ofer Gelbard – 27') (Amit Lemkin – 76'), Lucas Falcão (Yonatan Perber – 76'), Andrian Kraev, Omri Altman (Daniel Dafa – 64'), Stav Turiell, Xande Silva (Mor Buskila – 64'), Emmanuel Boateng.
Refereed by Snir Levi at the Miriam Stadium in Netanya.
Hapoel's next match will take place this coming Thursday (July 23), hosting Bulgarian side Ludogorets at the DVTK Stadium in Hungary for the UEFA Conference League Second Qualifying Round. The match will kick off at 20:30.
Match Log
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19': Goal! Hapoel Tel Aviv takes a 1-0 lead. The play started with a Stav Turiell set-piece crossed into the box; Emmanuel Boateng got there first to head it across, and Chico followed up with another header into Miguel Silva's net.
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23': 1-1.
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40': Andrian Kraev found Stav Turiell well on the right flank; the winger beat his marker and fired into the side netting.
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53': An attack that started on Hapoel Tel Aviv's left flank shifted to the right to Turiell, who controlled it and laid it off with one touch to Omri Altman, whose shot missed the target.
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76': 2-1 to the opponents following a penalty awarded in their favor.
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90+7': A set-piece in Hapoel's favor found the head of Andrian Kraev, who flicked it backward; the ball fell to Daniel Dafa, who scored the dramatic equalizer from close range. 2-2.