Hapoel Tel Aviv Wins Toto Cup Final After 14-Year Drought

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured their first trophy in 5,280 days, or 14 years, by defeating archrivals Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-2 in a dramatic Toto Cup final on Thursday. The victory marked a significant moment for the club, which has endured league relegations, faced dissolution, and undergone a restructuring under American ownership during its trophy drought. This win was particularly sweet as it was Hapoel's first cup final victory over Maccabi in 43 years.

Hapoel initially built a commanding 3-0 lead, but a late surge from Maccabi, including a brace from Dor Peretz and a significant error by Hapoel goalkeeper Assaf Tzur, nearly cost them the title, pushing the match to the brink of a penalty shootout. Despite the late scare, Hapoel held on to secure the win in front of 12,500 ecstatic fans at Bloomfield Stadium.

The emotional win provided immense joy to Hapoel supporters, who have suffered through over a decade of Maccabi's dominance. Players celebrated enthusiastically with the trophy, with many expressing that the moment was worth years of disappointment. Professionally, the win was seen as a strong performance, especially considering Maccabi's recent 4-1 league victory over Hapoel.

Hapoel coach Eliniv Barda acknowledged that his substitutions might have been premature, admitting he "might have needed to wait." Maccabi coach Kenny Miller was criticized by Hapoel officials for his behavior, with one Hapoel club source stating, "Kenny Miller got a lesson from Barda, so he started cursing." Miller himself expressed frustration, calling it "frustrating to be the weakest Maccabi in the derby in a decade and a half. We should have known how to win with more goals."

Following the match, an incident occurred when some Hapoel foreign players, including captain Fernand Mayembo and Marcus Coco, argued with security personnel who denied their families access to the field to celebrate with the trophy. CEO Guy Primor attempted to intervene unsuccessfully. Despite the celebrations, Hapoel is already focusing on their upcoming league match against Maccabi Haifa on Monday, aiming to leverage the win's momentum.

Striker Daniel Dapa was highlighted as a key player, involved in all three of Hapoel's goals. He assisted one, earned a penalty, and scored another. Dapa stated, "There is no power like scoring in the derby, it's the most fun in the world. We were a united team." The club also praised the performances of Marcus Coco, Falcao, Omri Altman, and Roi Alkokin.