Maccabi Haifa welcomed Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Round of 16 of the State Cup to Sammy Ofer. The Greens entered the match after naming Fred Rutton as their incoming manager. This match comes after the two teams met last week in the Israeli Premier League. The Greens looked to continue their run in the State Cup and advance to the next round.
 
The match began as rain poured down in Sammy Ofer. Both sides began the match searching for their rhythm on a rain-soaked pitch. Haifa’s first opportunity came in the 13^th minute when Gal Alberman hit a strong shot from outside the box that was only kept out of goal with a fine save from Tel Aviv goalkeeper, Rajkovic. On the ensuing corner kick, Ben Harush’s header went just over the goal. In the 30th minute, Roei Kehat received a ball in the box, but his shot was cleared by the Tel Aviv defense. Minutes later, Mbouka capitalized on an error from the visitors and swung in a threatening cross, but Klaus couldn’t find the target with his shot. In the 45^th minute, the ball fell to Klaus at the top of the box who then found Rukavytsya, but the Australian’s shot was just wide of the post. Both teams entered the break looking to get the first goal of the match.
 
The Greens began the half with high pressure and won a free kick inside the Tel Aviv half within the first minute of play. The ensuing free kick was headed wide of the goal. But, in the 54^th minute, Roi Kehat found himself on the end of a rebound from Rajkovic inside the box and put the Greens up 1:0 at Sammy Ofer. Four minutes later, Maccabi Tel Aviv lost the ball at midfield to Rukavytsya.  He carried the ball into the box and found Sallallich, who completed the counter attack after and finished off the opportunity to put the Greens up 2:0.
 
In the 61^st minute, Ofir Mizrachi replaced Roei Kehat for Haifa’s first substitution. Rukvystya had another dangerous opportunity in the 73^rd minute, but his chance hit off the goal and was cleared by the Tel Aviv defense. He wouldn’t miss his next change, when in the 76^th minute, he cut inside on his defender and brilliantly curled the ball around Rajkovic into the upper corner, putting the Greens up 3:0. In the 78^th minute, Yonatan Levi replaced Ben Harush for Haifa’s second change of the night. In the 83^rd minute, Shlomi Azulay replaced Rukavystya in the last change for Maccabi Haifa. In on the of the best matches from the Maccabi Haifa throughout the season, the Greens finished the match 3:0 and moved into the quarterfinals of the State Cup.