A 90th minute Ofek Barzani goal saves Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" a point away against Hapoel Rishon Lezion
Matchweek 23 in the National Under-19 Premier League saw the charges of head coach Ziv Arie's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" head off to play Hapoel Rishon Lezion. It was the home side who opened strongly and with just a minute on the matchclock, "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason was already called into action to sweep away a header from inside his area. A minute later, though, Hason was not so lucky as Rishon's Daniel Bloomfield succeeded in beating him from inside the area to give his side a 1-0 advantage. The home side continued to press their advantage in the first half, but opportunities of beating the Maccabi keeper on 20 minutes and just before the break were both left begging. Maccabi, too, had their moments and on the stroke of half time midfielder Matan Hozez escaped his markers, but his shot sailed past post of Rishon keeper Chen Ashal.
After the restart it was "Shachar" who went on the offensive, and seven minutes in striker Sohil Armeli came close to scoring off a corner. A minute later it was defender Shaun Goldberg getting his head to a corner but his shot went wide. Just short of the hour mark, substitute midfielder Ofek Barzani burst into the area from the right and let fly with a shot that the Rishon keeper stopped only at full stretch. In the 72nd minute midfielder Saar Kalderon left a ball for Guy Aviv in the heart of the area but once again Chen Ashal was at the ready. Ten minutes later the action was at the other end, with a good Rishon chance being cleared off the line. But it was in the final moment of the match that Maccabi's pressure bore fruit, when a splendid individual effort by Barzani finished in the substitute's chipping the ball over the Rishon keeper to bring the sides level at 1-1. Guy Aviv almost succeeded in winning the match for Maccabi in extra time but again his shot went wide and at the final whistle "Shachar" were forced to make do with the one point.
In matchweek 24, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will welcome municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda for a "little" derby at Kiryat Shalom training ground.
Line-up: Sahar Hason, Guy Aviv, Shaun Goldberg, Oliver Spring (Shachar Fiben – '46), Saar Kalseron, Dan Glazer (Effie Tal – '66), Eliel Peretz (Sheked Azulai – 46), Daniel Gretz, Sohil Armeli, Amit Farhi (Ofek Barzani – '55), Matan Hozez (Yonatan Cohen – '46)
