Holders on course again
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Article summary
Maccabi Tel-Aviv reached the last four of the Israeli Cup thanks to Reueven Oved's late winner.
Article body
Oved's masterpiece
However, it needed a goal deep into extra-time from substitute Reueven Oved to divide the sides at Bloomfield stadium. Oved struck on 103 minutes, breaking the visitors' resistance with a shot that beat goalkeeper Avi Ibgi at his near post.
Keeper class
Bnei Yehuda had frustrated the Israeli title chasers, Ibgi pulling off a series of fine saves to deny Bruno Rais, Baruch Dago and Andreas Prochanenkovs. Bnei Yehuda's best chance came when Liron Vilner struck the crossbar with Ibgi beaten.
Change for the better
However, the introduction of Oved for Banin changed the game, and the match-winner had a curling effort tipped onto the bar by Ibgi moments after his decisive intervention.
Underdogs win
Maccabi joined second-division side Hapoel Ramat Gan in the last four. Ramat Gan were the first team into the semi-final draw after Sharon Amar's 23rd-minute penalty knocked out Bnei Sachnin at the Vinter stadium.
Still to play
Eli Cohen's men are struggling at the wrong end of the second-division table and had been expected to lose against promotion-chasing opponents. In the other quarter-finals, Hapoel Beer-Sheva are due to meet Maccabi Kiriat-Gat, while Maccabi Kfar-Kana will play Maccabi Haifa.
