Maccabi Tel Aviv Stuns Beersheba to Win State Cup

Maccabi Tel Aviv came from behind to beat Hapoel Beersheba 2-1 in a dramatic State Cup final at Teddy Stadium, denying the newly crowned league champions a historic double.

Beersheba struck first in the 12th minute, when Abu Rumi gave the southern side a 1-0 lead. The score held through halftime, putting Beersheba on course to retain the cup and complete the first double in club history.

But Maccabi Tel Aviv turned the match around in a five-minute burst early in the second half. Varela equalized in the 58th minute, before Roy Revivo completed the comeback in the 63rd to put the yellow-and-blue ahead.

The closing stages grew heated. In stoppage time, a confrontation broke out between players on Maccabi Tel Aviv’s bench and Hapoel Beersheba players, leading to a red card for one of the substitutes. Beersheba’s Diop was also sent off after receiving a second yellow card in the 98th minute.

The result did not change. Maccabi held on to win the trophy, claiming its 25th State Cup and first since the 2020/21 season.

For Beersheba, the loss ended hopes of completing a dream season after winning its first league championship in eight years. The club has won the State Cup four times, including last season, but has still never completed a league-and-cup double.

The result also affects Israel’s European qualification picture. Maccabi Tel Aviv will enter the Europa League qualifiers, while Beitar Jerusalem will go to the Conference League qualifiers.

President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal attended the final and met during the match with captivity survivors Emily Damari, Gali Berman and Ziv Berman.