Maccabi Tel Aviv Advances to Athena Cup Semifinals on Tiebreaker

Maccabi Tel Aviv has secured a spot in the Athena Cup semifinals, advancing over Hapoel Tel Aviv due to a unique tiebreaker rule. The decision came after the final round of matches in the tournament on Sunday. Despite Hapoel Tel Aviv's decisive 5-3 victory over Hapoel Ra'anana, fueled by a hat-trick from Eden Avital, they were eliminated.

M.S. Kiryat Gat also advanced to the semifinals, defeating Maccabi ASA Tel Aviv 1-0. Both Kiryat Gat and Maccabi Tel Aviv finished the group stage with six points, tied with Hapoel Tel Aviv. The tiebreaker initially considered the number of wins, where all three teams had two. The subsequent tiebreaker, however, looked at the teams' league standings from the previous season. Kiryat Gat, as the previous season's runner-up, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, finishing third, both qualified. Hapoel Tel Aviv, having been promoted from the second division (Leumit), was excluded.

In other matches, Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem, already assured of a semifinal spot, completed the group stage with a perfect record by beating Bnot Netanya 5-0. Maccabi K.S. Hadera also clinched a semifinal berth, crushing Maccabi Holon 4-0 in a decisive match that determined the final qualifying spot. Holon will now compete for fifth place.

The semifinals are scheduled for September 3rd, with Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem facing Maccabi ASA Tel Aviv, and M.S. Kiryat Gat playing Maccabi K.S. Hadera. Hapoel Tel Aviv will play against Bnot Netanya in a match to determine 5th and 6th place.