Despite continued pressure from the home side, a single goal by visitors Hapoel Ramat Gan handed Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" their second consecutive defeat
After last week's season opening loss to title holders Maccabi Haifa, the Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" squad hoped to return this Saturday to winning ways in a home tie against Hapoel Ramat Gan. From the very start of the match Maccabi's Under-19s hit up against a defensive bunker on the part of the visitors and struggled in the first half to create any good chances in front of goal. At the other end, in one of their few attacks of the half, Youth Premier League newcomers Ramat Gan scored a surprise goal on the half hour courtesy of Yaniv Mizrahi. "Shachar" endeavoured to get back into the match with strikes by midfielder Daniel Gretz and striker Dor Jan but the half-time whistle sent the two sides off with Maccabi still trailing 0-1.
After the restart, the game continued to move largely in one direction, that of the Ramat Gan goal. Head coach Ziv Arie's lads succeeded in creating chances but the equalising goal continued to escape them. Dor Jan drew a good save from the Ramat Gan keeper and soon after midfielder Dor Peretz headed a ball onto the crossbar that returned to striker Yonatan Cohen who struck wide from inside the area. Towards the end of the match Ramat Gan took advantage of Maccabi having so many players in attack and almost scored a second goal on the counter, but "Shachar" continued to press forward in the hope of scoring a dramatic equaliser. Dor Jan drew a second save and striker Amit Farhi was also stopped by the crossbar. After full time the score remained 0-1 in Ramat Gan's favour, handing Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" their first home loss of the season and a second defeat in three matches in the Youth Premier League so far. Next Saturday Maccabi's Under-19s will try to make amends in another home tie against Beitar Tubruk.
