Maccabi Haifa Rolls Past Hapoel Be’er Sheva 3-0 in Toto Cup European Match, Sets Sights on UEFA Conference League

Maccabi Haifa delivered a commanding performance in the Toto Cup European Match, defeating Hapoel Be’er Sheva 3-0 to secure a spot in the semifinals of the pre-season competition. The victory highlighted Haifa’s preparedness as they gear up for their UEFA Conference League second-round qualifiers later this week.

In a match that served as a crucial warm-up for both teams, Maccabi Haifa emerged victorious thanks to goals from Dean David, Gadi Kinda, and Dia Saba.

The Greens’ first-half lead was established by David, who capitalized on a mishit shot from Muhammed Jaber. Kinda and Saba further solidified Haifa’s advantage in the second half, ensuring their place in the next round of the Toto Cup.

The win also provided a valuable opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their strategies before their European campaigns. Maccabi Haifa will face Azerbaijan’s FC Sabah in the UEFA Conference League qualifiers, while Hapoel Be’er Sheva is set to clash with Bulgaria’s PFC Cherno More.

The match began with both teams displaying strong defensive formations. Haifa’s breakthrough came in the 35th minute when Pierre Cornud’s pass found Jaber, whose shot was poorly executed but fortuitously collected by David. The forward made no mistake in slotting the ball past the Be’er Sheva goalkeeper to give Haifa a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Haifa’s dominance continue. Gadi Kinda capitalized on a missed opportunity by Frantzdy Pierrot in the 60th minute, doubling Haifa’s lead. Dia Saba then sealed the victory with a well-placed rebound off an Ilay Hagag shot, putting Haifa ahead 3-0.

Maccabi Haifa’s head coach, Barak Bachar, took a moment to honor the late Yaron Zohar, a devoted Maccabi Haifa fan and fallen soldier. Bachar reflected on Zohar’s dedication to the club and his heroic service in the IDF.

Despite the win, Bachar emphasized the need for continuous improvement as his team prepares for the upcoming UEFA Conference League match against FC Sabah.

“We just started the season, and we’re only in training camp,” Bachar said. “But on Wednesday, we are flying to our first game and our first mission of the campaign. We have a difficult game against a strong team, and the goal is to pass that first test. I expect to see improvement from game to game.”

In contrast, Be’er Sheva head coach Ron Kozuk acknowledged the need for further development. “When you make mistakes, you pay – against any team,” Kozuk remarked. “There were some bright spots, and we pressed Haifa and sometimes won the ball, but we need to bring in more quality from abroad.”

Lior Refaelov, who featured prominently in Haifa’s victory, reflected positively on the game. “There were things that worked for us, and those were some things that we had worked on at the training camp. All in all, we could have scored more goals,” he said.

Guy Badash of Be’er Sheva also shared his thoughts on the match. “In the first half, there were some good things that we have been working on with the coach; we need to improve, without a doubt. But there were also good things,” Badash noted.

Looking ahead, Maccabi Haifa will face FC Sabah on Thursday. The Azerbaijani club, founded in 2017, is making its second European appearance after a strong showing in last year’s Conference League qualifiers. Sabah defeated RFS from Riga, Latvia, but were ultimately knocked out by Partizan Belgrade in a penalty shootout.

Hapoel Be’er Sheva will take on PFC Cherno More from Bulgaria in their European qualifier. Cherno More, established in 1913, recently drew 0-0 in their opening Bulgarian league match against CSKA 1948.

Their last European appearance was in 2015, where they fell to Dinamo Minsk in Europa League qualifying. Historically, Cherno More defeated Maccabi Netanya 3-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup qualifying round in 2008.

Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s triumph over Maccabi Petah Tikva in the Israel Super Cup last week was not their only achievement this season. The yellow-and-blue team also advanced to the Toto Cup semifinals, serving as a crucial prelude to their UEFA Champions League qualifying campaign.

Tel Aviv will face Fotbal Club FCSB, formerly known as Steaua București, in the second round of Champions League qualifying. FCSB has a rich European history, including a notable European Cup win in the 1985-86 season.

Maccabi Petah Tikva, also advancing to the Toto Cup semifinals, will encounter Portuguese side SC Braga in Europa League qualifying. Braga, having played in the Champions League group stages last year, represents a significant challenge for Petah Tikva.

As the Israeli teams continue their pre-season preparations, their performances in these European qualifiers will be a critical test of their readiness for the upcoming season.