Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-19 head coach Arie Ziv's squad booked an important away win at Ashdod FC courtesy of midfielder Dor Pertz's goal seventeen minutes from time
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" travelled south to the port city of Ashdod for an encounter with the Under-19 club that were placed second in the table on the eve of matchweek five of the Youth Premier League. Maccabi came into the match following a 0-1 home loss to Hapoel Ramat Gan in matchweek four, while their opponents Ashdod FC recorded an impressive 1-5 away victory against Hapoel Ra'anana. And much like the parallel fixture between the senior teams in matchweek four of the Israeli Premier league, the first half of the match was played out largely in midfield without any real chances for either club.
The second half started in an entirely different fashion, with Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-19 head coach Arie Ziv's charges on the attack in search of the match winner. Midfielder Daniel Gretz's long-range effort was parried by Ashdod keeper Buchbinder and striker Sohil Armali's stirring run on goal down the left side also drew a save that prevented Maccabi from taking the lead. Seventeen minutes from time, "Shachar"'s endeavours finally bore fruit when Maccabi's Under-19 international midfielder Dor Peretz latched on to a cross and headed in to give Maccabi a fully justified 0-1 advantage. Two substitutions signalled Ashdod's intent to get back into the match but "Shachar" continued to display their superiority on the pitch and the match ended with three invaluable away points for Maccabi's Under-19s.
This coming Tuesday Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will meet Beitar Tubruk in a home encounter at Maccabi's Kiryat Shalom training ground.
