Hapoel wrap up Željezničar success

The slenderest of wins on the night completed an emphatic 6-0 aggregate victory for Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC against FK Željezničar.

Hapoel did the hard work in last week's first leg, racing into a 5-0 lead that rendered the tie all but over. Željezničar did their utmost to claw their way back on home soil but ultimately found themselves further in arrears when Douglas da Silva found the net 14 minutes from time.

The hosts were in dire need of an early catalyst if they were to maintain any hope of an unlikely comeback and it nearly came in the 18th minute, Muamer Svraka denied by the bar. Home goalkeeper Ibrahim Šehić prevented Avihay Yadin from breaking the deadlock from a free-kick 13 minutes later, before Hapoel counterpart Galil Ben Shanan matched his exploits to keep out Edin Visca on the stroke of half-time.

Ben Shanan again rebuffed Visca on 74 minutes and then Hapoel struck the winner just two minutes later, Da Silva sneaking in unnoticed to turn in Gil Vermouth's free-kick and compound Željezničar's misery.