A single goal just after the hour mark by hosts Hapoel Haifa sent Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s home from the Kiryat Haim stadium empty handed
After the disappointment of an early exit from the Under-19 State Cup competition last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" returned to Under-19 Premier League duties with the wind of two consecutive league victories in their sails. The third win on the trot would have to be at the expense of Hapoel Haifa, who were returning to a newly renovated Kiryat Haim Stadium, kicking off a busy week in which Maccabi's Under-19s head out for a second away tie on Tuesday against Beitar Jerusalem and finish next Saturday at home against Maccabi Petach Tikva.
Five places in the table and six points separated the two sides in Maccabi's favour as the match kicked off, and the visitors began putting the Hapoel Haifa goalkeeper under pressure from the very start. Striker Raz Itzhak came close early on but the pass he received in front of goal escaped him and midfielder Daniel Gretz, who latched on to it, failed to get it into the net. Slowly the hosts also got into the match and tried their luck on goal, with Noam Kolkofsky hitting "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason's woodwork. At the other end striker Dor Jan was chasing his eighth league goal of the season but he too was prevented by the frame and the two sides finished the half without disturbing the scoreboard.
After the restart "Shachar" renewed their attempts to break the ice and avoid their first goalless draw of the season, with substitute midfielder Dor Peretz striking high above the goal. But in the race to break the deadlock, Hapoel Haifa succeeded where "Shachar" had so far failed: Just past the hour mark Ofer Sifrian struck on the turn from the area and put his side ahead 1-0. In the 25 minutes that remained, "Shachar" carved out a number of opportunities in front of goal, the best of the lot being a close-range effort by Daniel Gretz that went astray. But the equaliser continued to elude them and full-time saw a disappointed "Shachar" squad leave the pitch having suffered their fourth defeat of the season.
The defeat left Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" on 20 points after twelve league encounters, seven points off the pace of league leaders Maccabi Haifa. Their next challenge begins on Tuesday at 2.30pm in the capital's Bayit VeGan training ground, when Maccabi's Under-19s play their game in hand from a postponed matchweek 11 tie away to Beitar Jerusalem.
