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Maccabi's U19s did their bit against Petach Tikva but Maccabi Haifa's draw at Beer Sheva ensured the "Greenies" the title

After drawing last week against Hapoel Haifa, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s title hopes remained alive ahead of this week's away match against Maccabi Petach Tikva. MTA's Under-19s came into this penultimate season match sitting second in the national Under-19 Premier League, trailing league leaders Maccabi Haifa by six points. And head coach Ziv Arye's lads showed that despite the gap, they still very much believed in their chances as they opened this title contender's match against third-place Maccabi Petach Tikva with exceptional verve, taking a 0-1 lead with just two minutes on the matchclock courtesy of midfielder Dor Peretz's second goal of the season. And eight minutes later it was again Dor Peretz, who is returning to form after having spent a healthy part of this season sidelined with injury, who doubled "Shachar"'s advantage. As word arrived that leader's Maccabi Haifa had fallen behind in their parallel fixture in Beer Sheva, "Shachar" continued to widen their lead against Maccabi Petch Tikva. At the half hour mark midfielder Sohil Armeli scored his sixth goal of the season and "Shachar"'s third to round off an excellent half for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s. But by the time the two squads left the pitch for the break, Maccabi Haifa had equalised to widen their lead at the top of the table to four points.

After the restart the hosts managed to pull one back, but midfielder Eliel Peretz restored "Shachar"'s three-goal cushion and at 1-4 their remained little doubt as to the ultimate winners. After a second goal by Maccabi Petach Tikva the final score was settled at 2-4, but unfortunately for the visitors Maccabi Haifa held on for a draw at Beer Sheva to preserve their four-point lead with only three points left to play for in the Under-19 season. Maccabi Tel Aviv will thus have to wait for the 2014/15 season to renew their title hopes.

In their last tie of the Under-19 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will host Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground.