Maccabi Netanya Aims for European Qualification After Toto Cup Win

Maccabi Netanya secured a 2-1 victory over Maccabi Petah Tikva on July 29, maintaining their perfect record with six points from two Toto Cup matches and holding first place in Group B. The newly promoted Maccabi Petah Tikva suffered their second consecutive loss. Netanya's coach, Roni Levi, described the Toto Cup games as important preparation, emphasizing the need for further squad reinforcements, especially in midfield, defense, and wing positions. He also criticized the referee for what he considered an overly harsh red card against his team, stating, "I told the referee he was too severe with us." Levi praised Basam Zaaroura, who scored again but was sent off with a second yellow card, highlighting his high team spirit and potential for improvement. He also commented on 16-year-old Yarin Abuhatzira, who played the full 90 minutes, noting it might have been too demanding early in the season.

Midfielder Maor Levi, who assisted Netanya's second goal, expressed pride in the team's resilience and focus on their goal to reach European competitions this season. Addressing transfer rumors, he affirmed his happiness at Netanya and commitment to the club, saying, "I believe in our path and will give everything for the team." He also appreciated the club's support, especially after a challenging start to his tenure.

Maccabi Petah Tikva's coach, Ziv Arie, reflected on the match, dividing it into phases and acknowledging the team's youthful lineup and fatigue. He described the game as a good training exercise and expressed optimism about the squad's development, mentioning plans to add four to six players to strengthen the team. Defender Mohammed Hindi noted the team is still learning under a new coaching staff and aims to present good football and maintain their league status. He praised Arie's tactical approach and leadership during team meetings.

The Toto Cup continues to serve as a platform for teams to prepare for the league season, with Netanya showing strong momentum and Petah Tikva focusing on growth and squad building.