Hapoel Tel Aviv Dominates Hapoel Jerusalem, Advances to Toto Cup Final

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem at Teddy Stadium, extending their winning streak to four games and earning a spot in the Toto Cup final against Maccabi Tel Aviv. The team displayed an exceptional performance, building significant momentum heading into the championship match.

Coach Eliniv Barda praised the understanding between Boaten and Daniel Dafah, noting Dafah's patience and readiness to seize his opportunity. Barda also provided an update on Touriel's injury, stating it was too early to determine the severity after the player felt a "shift" late in the first half. He acknowledged a less dominant first half but highlighted adjustments made at halftime, including the introduction of Elkokin, which improved the team's control.

Barda explained that Falcao was substituted in the 70th minute due to exhaustion after a week-long virus that prevented him from completing training sessions. Meanwhile, Hapoel Jerusalem's coach Lior Zada expressed frustration with his team's defensive lapses, calling the 3-0 scoreline misleading and attributing the goals to "childish and very easy" mistakes. He admitted the team's awareness of these issues and his responsibility to address them.

Zada further elaborated that while some goals stemmed from individual errors and others from coordination issues, the ultimate responsibility lies with him. He felt the team played well for 40 minutes but conceded soft goals at critical moments. The team is also hampered by a lack of attacking depth, forcing defensive sacrifices that proved ineffective.

Daniel Dafah shared his satisfaction with the team's success and aspirations for further achievements. Reflecting on his own performance, he stated he learns from each game to improve. He emphasized the importance of the upcoming Toto Cup final for the club and its fans, expressing a strong desire to win the title. Dafah also spoke about his brother, Israel, describing him as a dedicated and promising young player.

Noam Malamud of Hapoel Jerusalem lamented the loss, acknowledging a strong start that faltered after conceding a goal. He recognized Hapoel Tel Aviv as a good team and expressed disappointment with his team's defensive performance, stating they must move forward.