2025 Israel Super Cup

The football Super Cup brought together the two dominant clubs of the preceding Israeli season: Hapoel Beersheba, who had claimed the State Cup by defeating Beitar Jerusalem in May, and Maccabi Tel Aviv, the reigning Israeli league champions.[1] The two sides had met at the close of the previous league season as well, with Maccabi narrowly coming out on top in that encounter.[1] The July 13 match at Bloomfield Stadium thus carried an added edge, with Beersheba eager to reverse that earlier result as they opened the new campaign.[1]

Beersheba drew first blood when Eliel Peretz's long shot deflected off Maccabi defender Raz Shlomo and past goalkeeper Yoav Gerafi, giving the State Cup holders an early advantage.[1] The match turned dramatically in the 16th minute, however, when Beersheba defender Roie Levy was sent off after collecting a second yellow card for a tackle on Roy Revivo, leaving Beersheba to defend their lead with ten men for the majority of the game.[1]

Before halftime, Maccabi appeared to level through an Osher Davida attempt that deflected off Matan Baltaxa, but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Nemanja Stojic, preserving Beersheba's one-goal lead into the interval.[1] Maccabi did eventually equalize in the 62nd minute when Wesley Patati converted a pass from Davida.[1] With the scores level and both sides having made substitutions, Zahi Ahmad played in Eylon Almog, who struck the decisive winning goal in the 76th minute — against his former club — to put Beersheba back in front.[1] A late opportunity for Sagiv Yehezkel failed to bring Maccabi level, and the final score stood at 2–1 to Beersheba.[1]

Beersheba coach Ron Kozuk emphasized how meaningful it was to begin the new season with a win after the team had been unable to beat Maccabi during the previous season, stating that the squad's ambition was to bring home titles.[1] Maccabi coach Zarko Lazetic acknowledged Beersheba's quality, observing that his opponents had scored twice from two entries into the penalty area, with one of those goals arriving via a deflection.[1]

In his post-match remarks, Kozuk referred to the hostage pin he was wearing and said, "First of all, it's urgent to bring them home."[1]

The basketball Super Cup was announced as a new competition, organized in cooperation with the Histadrut's Social Supermarket initiative and carrying the theme "A big game, a big heart."[2] It brought together the two finalists from the previous season — Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem — whose championship final series had been left unresolved at 1–1 after the war with Iran interrupted the season and no deciding game was played.[2][3]

The league announcement said the Super Cup would not serve as a replacement for that unplayed championship game; it was a separate competition and would constitute the teams' first meeting since the interrupted final series.[2] League chairman Ari Steinberg described the new tournament as "a kind of closing of the circle" after the previous season ended without a declared champion, and framed the event as an opportunity for sport to connect people and contribute to society.[2] The inaugural game was scheduled for September 21, 2025, at Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv.[2] It was played there that day, at the venue also known as Yad Eliyahu.[3]

Maccabi Tel Aviv controlled the early stages, leading 22–17 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 42–35 by halftime.[3] Jerusalem turned the game on its head in the third quarter, outscoring Maccabi 26–14 to move ahead 61–56 entering the final period.[3] Jerusalem also outshot Maccabi from long range, finishing the game with ten three-pointers to Maccabi's five.[3]

Kadin Carrington scored 21 points and Jared Harper added 20 for Jerusalem, while Roman Sorkin led Maccabi with 22.[3] Jerusalem pushed their lead out to 81–70 in the closing stages, but Maccabi produced a nine-point unanswered run to cut the deficit to 81–79 with 39 seconds remaining.[3] With the outcome hanging in the balance, Carrington missed one free throw, then made a clutch steal from Jimmy Clark and sealed the victory from the free-throw line.[3] The final score was 84–79 to Hapoel Jerusalem.[3]

The victory gave Hapoel Jerusalem the inaugural basketball Super Cup and its first title of the 2025–26 season.[3] It also completed the rivals' first meeting since the previous season's final series ended without a deciding game; the Super Cup remained a separate title rather than a retroactive replacement for that championship game.[2][3]