Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19's registered their most impressive victory of the season so far, overwhelming Bnei Yehuda 6-0 at Kiryat Shalom. Goals by Saar Kalderon (brace), Guy Aviv, Ofek Barzani, Amit Farhi and Yonatan Cohen
With six games left to the Under-19 Premier League season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" and league leaders Maccabi Haifa remain locked in a tight race for the title, with just four points still separating the two sides. With one eye on that race, "Shachar" hosted municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda on Saturday at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Ten minutes into the match defender turned forward Ofek Barzani already put the home side ahead with the team's first clear chance, a corner by fellow forward Yonatan Cohen that Barzani headed past the Bnei Yehuda keeper. Ten minutes later defender Guy Cohen doubled that lead with a fierce and accurate shot from inside the area that raced past the keeper into the far corner of the net. "Shachar"'s eighth win in their last ten outings looked even more likely nine minutes from half time when Yonatan Cohen was sent through with just the keeper to beat and cool-headedly shot past him to increase the home side's margin to 3-0. Bnei Yehuda's Amir Cohen made an attempt to get his side back into the match, but Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason was having nothing of it and kept his goal in tact until the half.
The same picture quickly emerged after the restart, with "Shachar" maintaining the pace of their attack. With six minutes gone, left back Saar Kalderon found the net for what would prove to be his first goal of the match, and at 4-0 the ultimate winner was no longer in doubt. Guy Aviv and Yonatan Cohen followed with their own efforts to raise the tally, but it was substitute striker Amit Fahri who scored Maccabi's fifth, firing into an unguarded net for his third goal of the season. But Saar Kalderon had not yet spoken his final word and finished off the Under-19's splendid attacking display two minutes from time when he broke free down the left and completed his side's impressive 6-0 rout.
The result keeps head coach Ziv Arie's side four points behind Maccabi Haifa, who also won on Saturday. Next week "Shachar" will head out to face Hapoel Ramat Hasharon.
Click here to see the national Under-19 Premier League table
Click here to see Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s full fixture schedule
