Local Soccer: Separate paths to semis for Hap Tel Aviv, Ashdod

Tel Aviv had been by far the better side in its 2-0 victory last week, but the tables were turned on Tuesday with Haifa winning 2-0.

By JEREMY LAST
hapoel tel aviv 224.88 (photo credit: )
hapoel tel aviv 224.88
(photo credit: )
Hapoel Tel Aviv and Ashdod SC advanced to the semifinals of the Toto Cup on Tuesday night, in starkly contrasting manners. Ashdod had already beaten Maccabi Netanya 4-1 in the first leg at National Stadium in Ramat Gan a week ago and had few difficulties desposing of Netanya 1-0 on Tuesday night. Hapoel, meanwhile, needed to win a tense penalty shoot out at Kiryat Eliezer Stadium in Haifa to go through after losing Tuesday's second leg 2-0. Tel Aviv had been by far the better side in its 2-0 victory last week, but the tables were turned on Tuesday with Haifa winning 2-0. The team in Green took the lead in the 23rd minute when Brazilian striker Gustavo Boccoli volleyed in a Peter Masalila cross with aplomb. And it was 2-0 to the hosts 22 minutes later after defender Dekel Keinan scored with his head. Haifa, the defending champion was the stronger team throughout the encounter but could not do enough to score a third, even when the game went into extra time, and a penalty shoot out had to decide the contest. Hapoel Tel Aviv goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was key to the shoot out, failing to save the first effort from Colombian John Culma but then scoring himself. When Thembinkosi Fanteni missed for Haifa and Walid Badir scored, the writing was on the wall for Hapoel and it was Tel Aviv which will be in the hat for the semifinal draw.