Maccabi Tel Aviv's U19s stay four points off the pace with a 1-3 win at Ashdod FC courtesy of a brace by Dor Jan and an own goal
A difficult away tie for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" against FC Ashdod ended in a 1-3 victory that keeps their championship hopes alive. Striker Dor Jan scored from the spot to give the Under-19s a 0-1 lead at half time. After the restart the hosts levelled the score with a penalty of their own but Jan's second goal of the match plus an own goal decided the match in Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s favour. With three matches left, they hold on to second place just four points behind Maccabi Haifa, who beat city rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv 5-0, with the two league leaders meeting at Kiryat Shalom training ground in the final match of the season.
In a match that saw head coach Amir Turgeman's lads looking for their second league victory against third-placed Ashdod FC, the first event of any significance came just past the 20 minute mark when MTA striker Lanre Kehinde was brought down in the area. Dor Jan scored coolly from the spot to register his twelfth goal of the season and put Maccabi out in front 0-1. Maccabi defender Osher Abu and midfielder Daniel Gretz both let good opportunities go begging but Maccabi's lead held until the halftime whistle was heard.
Five minutes after the restart Ashdod FC were down to ten men after their captain, Gadi Kinda, was shown a second yellow card. Only then did the home side find a way back into the match when five minutes later Moshe Sha'ashua beat Maccabi keeper Sahar Hasson from the spot to level the score at 1-1. But Maccabi continued to press forward in search of the advantage and with fifteen minutes left, smart play by midfielder Sagi Dror ended in a pass into the area to Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" captain Dor Jan, who scored his 13thgoal of the season and put his side ahead 2-1. Five minutes from time Maccabi added a third when defender Shachar Fiban's cross into the area was turned in by an Ashdod defender to finalise the score at 1-3 for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar".
Next week Maccabi's Under-19s are off to the capital for a second consecutive away tie against Hapoel Jerusalem.
Line-up: Sahar Hason, Shachar Feban, Osher Abu, Shaun Goldberg, Dean Akafi, Yarden Pinto, Dor Peretz, Daniel Gretz, Sharon Ziso, Dor Jan, Lanre Kehinde
