Hapoel Haifa Rout Hapoel Be'er Sheva 4-0 to Secure Fifth Place in Toto Cup

On Saturday, Hapoel Haifa delivered a commanding 4-0 victory over Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Toto Cup, securing fifth place in the tournament. Be'er Sheva fielded a secondary lineup, prioritizing their upcoming crucial Champions League playoff match against Sabah in four days. Hapoel Haifa capitalized fully on this, dominating the game from the start.

The opening goal came after a mistake by Be'er Sheva's goalkeeper Marko Wolf, who was making his debut for the southern club. This error allowed Hapoel Haifa's new signing, midfielder Shay Elias, to score his first goal for the team, although he refrained from celebrating against his former club. Liran Rotman then doubled the lead with a well-placed shot from outside the box.

Despite a brief resurgence from Be'er Sheva early in the second half, Hapoel Haifa extended their lead with a goal from Alon Turgeman, who became the tournament's top scorer with five goals. Rotman completed his brace later, sealing the 4-0 win. Coach Kocuch used the latter stages to rest key players and give younger squad members playing time ahead of the important upcoming fixtures.

The lineups featured Yoav Gerfi in goal for Haifa, with notable players including Naor Sabag, Shay Elias, and Alon Turgeman. Be'er Sheva's squad included debutant goalkeeper Marko Wolf and several substitutes brought on in the second half. The result leaves Hapoel Haifa in a positive mood heading into the new Israeli Premier League season.