Women's Soccer Cup Final Features Fierce Rivalry
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem and M.S. Kiryat Gat will compete in the Athena Cup final on Monday, vying for the first title of the 2026/27 Israeli Women's Football season. The match is a rematch of the 2023/24 final, which Jerusalem won. Both teams have had strong starts to the season, with Jerusalem currently leading the league standings. Coaches from both sides expressed confidence and determination ahead of the highly anticipated clash.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem and M.S. Kiryat Gat will play in the Athena Cup final on Monday.
- This match is considered the new 'Clasico' of Israeli women's football.
- Jerusalem won the league last season, ending Kiryat Gat's five-year championship streak.
- Kiryat Gat won the State Cup and Athena Cup last season.
- Jerusalem leads the league standings with a perfect record after beating Kiryat Gat 4-2.
- Both coaches expressed confidence in their teams' ability to win the cup.
The Israeli Women's Football League is set to crown its first champion of the 2026/27 season as Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem faces off against M.S. Kiryat Gat in the Athena Cup final on Monday. This match marks the latest chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between the league's two dominant teams.
Last season, Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem clinched their first-ever league title, ending Kiryat Gat's streak of five championships. Kiryat Gat secured the State Cup and their fourth Athena Cup, defeating Maccabi K.A. Hadera 1-0 in the final. The two clubs previously met in the 2023/24 Athena Cup final, where Jerusalem emerged victorious, claiming their first trophy.
Both teams have started the current season strongly. In the Athena Cup, Hapoel Jerusalem advanced to the final without conceding a goal, scoring 15 goals in four matches, including a 4-0 semifinal win over Maccabi ASA Tel Aviv. Kiryat Gat also reached the final impressively, with a 6-0 victory over Hadera in their semifinal.
The final comes after a three-week international break. In league play, both teams have also performed well, with Jerusalem currently leading the table with a perfect record after a dramatic 4-2 victory over Kiryat Gat in their last match before the break. Kiryat Gat sits in second place, two points behind.
Hapoel Jerusalem coach Tzah Shimroni expressed his team's eagerness to compete for the title, acknowledging areas for improvement despite their recent league win. "We know how much more we have to improve and be better," Shimroni stated, emphasizing the team's desire to win the first title of the season. Key players Michaela Varko and Hili Shalom, who were injured while playing for the national team, are expected to be available, while Rachel Steinshneider and Shira Elinav are still recovering from injuries. Ella Ben Tzvi is unavailable due to her participation in the U-19 national team's Euro qualifiers.
M.S. Kiryat Gat coach Zohar Kaminski, a former coach of Hapoel Jerusalem, expressed confidence in his team's readiness. "Our players are ready, experienced, and understand exactly what this game means," Kaminski said. "With all due respect to Hapoel Jerusalem, and there is respect, we are no less strong. We believe in our strength and are focusing on our style of play. We learned from the previous game, corrected the mistakes, and will come ready to do everything to lift the cup."
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