Midfielder Daniel Gretz scored from the penalty spot just after the restart to bring his Under-19 side on level terms in a match that ended 1-1 at Maccabi's municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19's registered their second draw of the 2013/14 season after finishing 1-1 at their municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda. After a home victory against Hapoel Rishon Lezion last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" hoped to repeat the feat today against another orange jerseyed team, but found the going against Bnei Yehuda more daunting. Before the start of the match, members of the youngest youth teams of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda participated in a short ceremony held in the memory of Israel's legendary singer and screen actor Arik Einstein. The ceremony was crowned with the release of balloons and a minute of applause for the great Israeli cultural idol, who died unexpectedly last week aged 74.
After a hesitant start in which Maccabi dominated possession but created few chances, it was the opponent who scored the opener. With 20 minutes on the matchclock, Bnei Yehuda's Itai Habri latched on to a long ball in the Maccabi area and shot from close range past keeper Sahar Hason on the half volley. Maccabi tried to get back into the match and five minutes before the break midfielder Matan Hozaz cut across after a run down the right flank and left-footed a strong shot that fizzed just past the post. Just before half time, strikers Dor Jan and Raz Yitzhak marshalled an attack that ended in the latter receiving a pass from defender Guy Aviv but the finish went begging. But the miss of the match occurred at the other end, where keeper Hason's parry of a Daniel Avital kick landed for Or Shimoni in front of an open net but his shot flew over.
Two minutes after the restart it was Maccabi midfielder Daniel Gretz who ultimately did find the net and drew the sides level when Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were awarded a penalty after Raz Yitzchak was brought down in the area. "Shachar" head coach Arie Ziv brought on all his attacking options from the bench as his charges continued to press for the winning goal. One of those substitutes, midfielder Eliel Peretz, came close but Bnei Yehuda keeper Almog Busani came off his line to block the effort. Afterwards Matan Hozaz and substitute striker Yonatan Cohen both had goes with left-footed strikes from outside the area, but both missed their target. The winning goal continued to elude them whilst at the other end Sahar Hason kept Maccabi's hosts at bay. The match ended 1-1, bringing Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s total to 14 points from nine league matches.
Next week Maccabi will host Hapoel Ramat Hasharon at the Kiryat Shalom training ground in matchweek 10 of the national Under-19 Premier League.
