Maccabi Netanya began their Ligat Al Toto Cup group stage with a narrow 1-0 home win over Hapoel Kiryat Shmona on August 17, 2025. The single-goal margin at the Netanya Stadium was enough to secure a valuable three points in a typically cagey opening cup fixture. The match was likely a tense affair with both teams probing for an opening, but Netanya found the crucial breakthrough, possibly from a set-piece or a moment of individual quality in the second half. The solitary goal proved enough as their defense held firm against Kiryat Shmona's attempts to find an equalizer. This result immediately puts Maccabi Netanya in a strong position in their Toto Cup group, while Hapoel Kiryat Shmona will feel frustrated not to have taken at least a point from a closely fought contest.