Beitar Jerusalem captured the Toto Cup as they defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-1 to take home the hardware. The yellow-and-black dominated the reds from the get go with pressure from the outset of the contest and aggressive play throughout the 90 minutes. Dor Micha scored in the first half while Johnbosco Kalu found the back of the goal in the second as Stav Turiel’s consolation marker broke up Miguel Silva’s clean sheet but that didn’t matter to the Beitar faithful as they celebrated well into the evening when their heroes lifted the cup.

Prior to the game there had been concern that the off field action that took place at the Tel Aviv Derby would repeat itself and the match would be abandoned but that was not to be the case on this night. Other than flares being lit by both sets of supporters no other issues were reported as the local Haifa police ensured that a safe sporting event would take place.

Right after kickoff as the smoke cleared, both sides had quality chances early on as Beitar keeper Miguel Silva made a sharp diving save off of Loizos Louza’s chance while Asaf Tzur caught a Yarin Levy ball inside the box to keep the score goalless. Omer Atzily’s free kick just went over the bar in the 24th minute after Ziv Morgan had tripped him up earning the defender a yellow card while at the other end Louza’s scissors attempt went off of Luka Gadrani to keep the score knotted at 0-0.

However, the next Beitar attack ended with Dor Micha pounding the ball into the back of the goal. The midfielder received a beauty of a tap pass from Yarden Shua in the box after Tzur had parried an Atzily attempt off the right flank to give the yellow-and-black a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute. An active Atzily tried to double the advantage but his shot off the grass just stopped by the right post and then he just grazed the left post off a Shua cross into the box as the Beitar went into the break holding a 1-0 lead.

Hapoel made a triple substitution to begin the second half but Beitar continued to press for a second goal, but it was the reds who had a brilliant chance when Xander Silva and Stav Turiel teamed up inside the box but the yellow-and-black were able to clear the ball to safety. But as Hapoel couldn’t take advantage of their opportunity, Beitar punished them as Micha sent a tremendous through ball to Johnbosco Kalu who was racing down the right wing and slotted the ball into the far left hand corner of the goal for a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute.

The Reds tried to push to cut the advantage but Stav Turiel’s attempt went way over the goal, while Ran Binyamin’s attempt also cleared the bar, however, the finally broke through when Turiel beat Miguel Silva deep into second half injury time but it was too little too late as Beitar hoisted the cup high into air in victory.