Beersheba passes round-of-32 test
Hapoel Beersheba’s dream of becoming the second club to win the local treble is still alive. But the reigning Premier League champion had to dig a lot deeper than expected to overcome Maccabi Tzur Shalom of the third division 2-0 on Thursday to reach the State Cup round-of-16.
Beersheba holds an eight-point gap at the top of the Premier League standings and claimed the Toto Cup last week.
Maccabi Tel Aviv became the first team to win the Premier League championship, State Cup and Toto Cup in the same campaign in 2014/15.
Tzur Shalom sits in 11th place in Liga Alef Tzafon, but kept the Premier League leader at bay until the 55th minute. Maor Melikson finally broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half and Mohammad Ghadir clinched the win eight minutes later.
There were five other Premier League teams in action on Thursday and they all progressed against opponents from lower divisions.
Bnei Yehuda only did so after a penalty shootout, edging Hapoel Acre of the National League 4-3 on spot kicks after extra time ended in a 3-3 draw.
Bnei Yehuda looked to be in control after Antonio Mrsic (5) and Yonatan Cohen (23) gave the visitors a 2-0 lead. A hat-trick from Ido Exbard (50, 60, 77) completed a comeback for Acre, but Almog Buzaglo equalized in the 80th minute and the tie had to be decided in penalties after neither side scored in the additional 30 minutes.
Buzaglo failed to convert his spot kick, but Acre missed two penalties and Alon Turgeman sent Bnei Yehuda into the next round.
Third-division Kfar Kassem didn’t fare as well as Tzur Shalom, being thrashed 6-1 at top flight Hapoel Haifa. The hosts led 5-0 after a mere 18 minutes, with Dor Malul opening the scoring after four minutes before Hanan Maman netted four goals within 11 minutes (8, 11, 17, 18). Haim Megrelashvili made it 6-0 in the 32nd minute, with Rubil Sarsur netting a consolation goal in second-half stoppage time.
Hapoel Ra’anana advanced with a 4-1 win over Maccabi Ahi Nazareth.
Ra’anana scored through Rene Mihelic (42), Conlyde Luchanga (45), a Gal Sapir own goal (62) and Dor Hugi (85). Matias Martin (73) found the back of the net for the visitors.
Bnei Sakhnin beat Maccabi Shaaraim 3-1. Siraj Nassar (13, 45) and Yuval Avidor 68) scored for Sakhnin, with Eyal Danin (52) netting for Shaaraim.
Cup action continues on Friday, with six more matches, and on Saturday, with three more contests, including