Hapoel Akko booked their place in the Toto Cup Leumit final on Tuesday evening, beating hosts Maccabi Herzliya 2-0 at Herzliya Municipal Stadium in a semifinal that came to life only after the interval.
The first 45 minutes offered little for the travelling Akko supporters, with both Liga Leumit sides cancelling each other out and neither goalkeeper seriously tested. Herzliya, playing in front of their own crowd, arguably shaded the opening period without turning territory into clear chances.
Akko emerged transformed after the break. Six minutes into the second half, Muhammad Badarna broke the deadlock to put the visitors ahead and immediately shift the balance of the tie in their favour.
Herzliya pushed for an equaliser but could not find a way through a well-organised Akko defence, and the game was put beyond doubt in the 90th minute when Carlos Serenta added a second, sending the small pocket of Akko fans in Herzliya into celebration.
It completes a satisfying week's work for coach Adham Hadiya, who used the platform to talk up his squad's ambitions for the season ahead. "We have experienced players alongside young, talented ones committed to progressing, and I believe we'll be the surprise team of the league season this year," he said afterwards.
Herzliya coach Nitzan Demari pointed to his side's promising first-half showing but conceded his team struggled to find a tactical response once they fell behind early in the second period.
Akko now await the winner of the tournament's other semifinal, between M.S. Ashdod and Bnei Yehuda, for a place in the Toto Cup Leumit final - a first taste of silverware pressure this season for a club that spent last year fighting in the lower half of Liga Leumit.
Both Akko and Herzliya remain focused primarily on their Liga Leumit campaigns, where the two sides finished close together in the table last season, but a cup run offers a welcome secondary target and a shot at a trophy for whichever of the four remaining teams goes all the way.
