Hapoel Tel Aviv Wins Toto Cup in Derby Thriller

Hapoel Tel Aviv secured the Toto Cup, the third most important trophy in Israeli football, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-2 in a dramatic derby match on Thursday. The victory was a significant achievement for the club, which had not won the competition in many years, much to the delight of its fans.

Following the win, Hapoel Tel Aviv's coach, Eliniv Barda, expressed his joy and pride in his team and the club's management, which he stated provides a stable environment for work. "It's a great joy. We are happy for our crowd who waited many years," Barda said. He acknowledged that while the team performed well defensively and offensively, scoring three goals, he "rushed with the substitutions" and might have waited longer. He also noted that the team's performance continues the trend from last year and aims to compete for all titles in April.

Looking ahead to their league match against Maccabi Haifa, Barda admitted to being "angry about the two goals we conceded" but suggested it might serve as a grounding mechanism for the team. He also praised player Daniel Dafa, describing his current season as a significant improvement from his acclimatization year. Barda highlighted Dafa's young age of 18 and his upcoming military service, stating that continued hard work will pave his way to success.

Player Daniel Dafa echoed the sentiment of hard work and the impact of the fans. "The crowd pushed us. There is no power like scoring in a derby, it's the most fun in the world," he stated. Dafa credited his coach and teammates for their support and mentioned the fans' trust in him. He described the late Maccabi chance as "football" and "moments of lack of concentration," emphasizing that the team remained united and played their style of football without panicking, even when the score was 2-3.