Maccabi Tel Aviv bested Maccabi Haifa 3-2 to punch their ticket to the Israel State Cup final where they’ll meet Hapoel Beer Sheva. Dor Peretz opened the scoring but Eitan Azulay found the equalizer a 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 before 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 Israel State Cup competition 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 amount of fans being limited by the Home Front Command to roughly 5,000.

Maccabi Tel Aviv came out on fire and put their mark on the game early and often showing much more heart and desire as Ido Shahar put together a couple of opportunities that Maccabi Haifa keeper Georgiy Yermakov had to be alert in order to keep out of his goal. But that wouldn’t be the case for long as Matmon found a wide open Dor Peretz all alone on front of the goal who made sure to put the yellow-and-blue in front 1-0 in the 14th minute.

With a shaky ceasefire with Iran and the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah, the entire country has still not returned to normal and there are various limitations depending on of one is in the north, center or south which effect daily life from work, school as well as sporting events. Had this game been played at Sammy Ofer Stadium in Haifa there would have been no fans and if it would have been at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv only 1,000 would have been permitted. However, with 5,000 in attendance in the capital city the two fan bases were able to create an atmosphere that was more than respectable.

The greens up until this point were being manhandled on the pitch as they were unable to create any proper chances. But out of nowhere Abdoulaye Seck sent the embattled Eitan Azoulay the ball who made his way past the Tel Aviv defense and launched an absolute screamer into the top right hand corner of the goal to draw Haifa even at 1-1 in the 17th minute.

Prior to a massive game that would normally attract 30,000 supporters, the shopping center and local establishments would be teeming with people taking up every nook and cranny, it with only 5,000 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 without much hassle. 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.

Haifa began to chip away at the Tel Aviv defense and started taking a bit more control of the game as chances started to go the Greens way with Kenji Gore being able to draw Itamar Noy into a yellow card near the box while two attempts missed the target. At the other end, Madmon, who received the surprise start, continued to create all kinds of trouble for Haifa. His cheeky backheel in the box to an oncoming Peretz was just saved by Yermakov while the shot-stopper deflected Roy Revivo’s chance off of his own woodwork that went to safety as the greens had a few more opportunities at the other end before the half came to an end knotted up at 1-1.

A serene quiet could be felt around the stadium at halftime a both sets of supporters needed a few minutes to take a breather after what turned out to be en exhilarating half of football that saw chances galore at both ends with yet another half of football about to begin. Madmon had been the most creative player on the pitch while Yermakov was superb in goal as the second half beckoned.

Cedric Don who used to dance on this same field for Hapoel Jerusalem had the chance of the lifetime to give the greens the lead but somehow he sent the ball way, way over the bar to start off half number two. As Haifa continued to hold all of the cards, Ronny Delia’s Maccabi made a trio of substitutions to freshen up their attack and freshen up the attack it did. In no less than two minutes the yellow-and-blue went right after the greens, received a corner kick that Revivo promptly put into the box for Tyrese Asante to head it home and take a 2-1 lead in the 58th minute.

The triple substitution is always lethal, a trio of new players with plenty of energy to burn entering the fray while in this case Haifa head coach Barak Bachar made no changes to his lineup to counter which led to a Maccabi penalty. With the chance to add an insurance marker, Shahar stepped up and skied the ball into the yellow-and-blue supporter section giving Haifa a sliver of life.

Now with the chance to rectify the substitution debacle, Bachar quickly inserted a pair of new players and with that the Greens raced downfield and created a pair of incredible opportunities but just came up short as the match hit the 70th minute. But as they say he who don’t taketh, giveth and that’s exactly what occurred.

Madmon began the attack, sent the ball to Varela who in turn passed it to Revivo who made his way into the box and beat Yermakov to go up 3-1, Haifa pulled a very late goal back as a result of a scrum in front of the goal via Silva Kani but it was too little, too late as Maccabi Tel Aviv headed to the State Cup final where they’ll meet Hapoel Beer Sheva for the coveted trophy.