A Fourth consecutive win for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-17s, a 2-1 victory that sees them replace HaPoel Ra'anana at the top of the table
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s played an away game, but the centre pitch at Kiryat Shalom training ground hosted an equally intriguing top level match. The club's Under-17s hosted Hapoel Ra'anana for a game between the table's first and third-placed sides, with only one point separating the two. Maccabi went into the game after three consecutive wins, hoping to harvest three additional points that would see them rise above the visitors in the Under-17 League table.
The first half was controlled by Maccabi, which had opportunities marked by quick attacking play from the flanks. Defender Guy Aviv and midfielder Matan Hozaz created opportunities for forward Jonathan Cohen and tried to score themselves, but they were unable to pass Ra'anana's goalkeeper. But just five minutes into the game, Guy Peretz moved in from the left and shot with his left foot past the Ra'anana goalkeeper to give Maccabi the lead.
The advantage held for only two minutes, when Hapoel Ra'anana drew level at 1-1. Ariel Hadar received a long ball and beat Omri Glazer in Maccabi Tel Aviv's goal. But Maccabi did not back down and continued to attack until they regained the advantage. Ziv Arie's players could have improved the score on several occasions, but the score eventually remained the same, 2-1, and Maccabi recorded another league victory.
