Braces by striker Dor Jan and midfielder Matan Hozez produced an unqualified 4-1 victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s over their municipal rivals in the derby
After building up a head of steam from two wins and a draw from their last three outings, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" came into their home tie against municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv with high hopes of a continuation of their good form. The terraces bulged with the Maccabi faithful and they were treated early on to a concerted Maccabi attack on the visitor's goal, which within minutes resulted in a free-for-all at the Hapoel goalmouth and nearly an own goal by their defender Daniel Lazar. At the ten minute mark the pressure paid off when a measured pass by midfielder Matan Hozez found team captain Dor Jan alone with the Hapoel keeper and the striker slammed home without hesitation.
The Maccabi advantage lasted just a quarter of an hour as Hapoel found an equaliser when Avitar Yagoni headed in from a corner kick. But Maccabi Under-19 head coach Ziv Arie's charges refused to panic and kept up the pressure that enabled them to regain the lead eight minutes before half time. Dor Jan's run into the area was halted but possession fell to Matan Hozez who volleyed in from outside the area.
After the restart the visitors had two good opportunities to draw level but Maccabi held on to their 2-1 advantage. At the other end, Jan, Hozez and midfielder Daniel Gretz all came close to widening the home side's margin, but it was not till twelve minutes before time that Hozez succeeded. Passing the last defender in the area to his right, Hozez shot back high into the net beating the Hapoel keeper for the second time in the match. Two minutes later the visitors were down to ten men after a straight red card to midfielder Nir Laks for a foul on substitute striker Sohil Armeli. And in the dying moments of the match they were down to nine when defender Idan Cohen also saw red for clearing a Dor Jan strike off the line with his hand. It was Jan himself who converted the resultant penalty for his second goal of the match and his seventh of the season. The game ended moments later with Maccabi Tel Aviv on the ascendant end of a 4-1 victory.
Next Saturday Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" head for the nation's capital for an Under-19 State Cup encounter against Beitar Jerusalem.
