State Cup: Kfar Saba drawn at Betar in cup quarters

Betar hasn't won the cup for 19 years and will have to go through its former superstar Ohana if it's to claim a first ever league and cup double.

By ALLON SINAI
beitar zandberg 88 (photo credit: )
beitar zandberg 88
(photo credit: )
Eli Ohana and Hapoel Kfar Saba will be the next team to try and end Betar Jerusalem's double dreams after being drawn on Monday to face the league champion at Teddy Stadium in the quarterfinals of the State Cup. Betar hasn't won the cup for 19 years and will have to go through its former superstar Ohana, who lifted two cups at Jerusalem, if it's to claim a first ever league and cup double. "This isn't an easy match, but I'm glad we're playing at home," Betar captain David Amsalem told Sport5 after the draw, which was made at the cultural center in Sderot. "I don't care who we play as long as it's at Teddy. From the very start of the season we declared that we are playing to win all the titles and nothing has changed." Also in the quarterfinals, two-time defending cup holder Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Bnei Yehuda, giant-killer Betar/Shimshon Tel Aviv visits Ironi Kiryat Shmona and Maccabi Netanya plays at Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan. "Bnei Yehuda was a tough opponent when we last played them and we must be ready for this match," Hapoel Tel Aviv captain Walid Badier said. Badier's Bnei Yehuda counterpart Yair Azulai said: "We lost to Hapoel in the league on Saturday, but this is a different competition and hopefully there will be a different result. "I hope we can make it to the last four and also avenge our cup final defeat to Hapoel two years ago." Earlier in the day, Betar visited a high school in Sderot and played a friendly match against Hapoel Beersheba in Ashkelon. "We're very happy to be able to put a smile on the children's faces," midfielder Gal Alberman said after being welcomed by some 200 children in Sderot. Around 1,000 fans attended Betar's 2-2 draw with Beersheba in Asheklon. Beersheba led 2-0, but Aviram Bruchian tied the score with a penalty in the 75th minute. "This was a very emotional and important day," Jerusalem coach Itzhak Schum said. "All year we receive love from the fans and today we had a chance to give them something back."