Beitar Jerusalem and Maccabi Netanya met today in the crown jewel of Israeli football, the final of the State Cup.
It was a fitting end for the Sammy Ofer stadium’s season, having also hosted three Champions League games this season.
Both sides were in the midst of long trophy droughts.
Beitar’s last piece of silverware was the 2009 State Cup, at the end of their golden era, under Arkadi Gaydamak’s ownership.
Netanya’s last major trophy, however, seems prehistoric in comparison. They’ve been waiting for glory since their 1983 league title, 40 years of longing.
The game indeed had a Champions League atmosphere to it, the stadium was packed with 30,000 spectators - all in yellow and black of course, the colours of both teams.
As per recent tradition in big games in Israel, both sets of fans let off pyrotechnics in the stands, delaying the game twice for a total of 15 minutes.
Beitar, who wore their away kit, debuted a new classic blue shirt that was made specially for the final.
The team from Jerusalem fed off their fan’s energy and started bright, almost scoring immediately after the restart, but Yarden Shua missed a header from close range.
The two coaches were animated and lively on the touchlines.
On one hand, Beitar’s Yossi Abuksis is a veteran coach who is known to be a knockout specialist. His resume includes two back-to-back cup wins with different teams, in 2019 - where he beat Netanya - and 2020.
On the other, Netanya’s Ran Kozuk is a rookie in his first season in charge. After Benny Lam was sacked mid-season, Kozuk was given a promotion to the top job, and led his team to a great season - fifth place in the league, winning the Toto Cup and leading the Yellow Diamonds to the cup final.
On the night the deadlock was broken in the 37th minute.
Beitar’s slick passing and quickness managed to leave overlapping defender Grigori Morozov free on the left wing, and the Russian squared the ball to the middle where Ion Nicolaescu tapped in from close range.
Electric scenes in the stands followed. It was 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, Netanya took over the game and dominated possession, but without any real venom.
For a Yossi Abuksis-led team, that is familiar territory, especially in cup games - sit back, defend tightly, and wait for opportunities on the counter attack.
It was a moment of brilliance in the 76th minute that sealed the game.
Nigerian striker Fred Friday outsmarted Netanya’s defenders with a nice turn and shoulder drop, and fired home from outside the box.
Itamar Nitzan had no chance. 2-0.
To add salt to the wound, Danilo Asprilla was fouled in the box in the 90th minute.
Yarden Shua converted the penalty to make it 3-0, and coach Abuksis couldn’t hold his joy any longer, and ran across the pitch, celebrating with the Beitar fans.
It was another cup final heartbreak for Netanya, while Beitar are alive and proud.
A team that has seemingly been on the verge of catastrophe many times in recent years, they have risen back into Israeli football glory.
But with Beitar nothing is ever simple or straightforward, even lifting the cup for the first time in 14 years.
As the players started to make their way to the stage to receive their medals and lift the trophy, hundreds of fans ran onto the pitch and took over the ceremony.
All hell broke loose, and after 30 minutes of attempting to restore order, stadium officials and the Israeli FA simply gave up and sent everyone home.
Medals weren't handed out, the cup wasn't lifted.
So a great evening of football ended on a sour note, and it will be interesting to see what the consequences will be.
Edited by Alex Smith
Photos by Shaul Greenfeld
