A second half goal by midfielder Sharon Ziso enabled MTA's U19s to finish their season in style with a prestigious 1-0 victory over this year's U19 Champions, Maccabi Haifa
A week ago Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" watched their two year grip on the National Under-19 Premier League title come to an end as this year's championship fell into the hands of rivals Maccabi Haifa with one game to spare. This week Maccabi's Under-19s hosted the freshly anointed league winners in the last match of the season after an excellent record of 12 victories in their 14 games played in the second round of league matches this season, and they ensured a bright end to a somewhat frustrating campaign by beating them 1-0 at home. After Maccabi Tel Aviv provided the recently crowned champions with a guard of honour, a round of applause and a bouquet of flowers in recognition of their achievement, midfielder Sharon Ziso went on to score the only goal of the match after 54 minutes and guaranteed head coach Amir Turgeman's charges the second spot in the table, just one single point behind Maccabi Haifa.
It had been three long years since Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s had recorded a victory over their northern namesakes but they started out the first half with intent and were rewarded with an excellent opportunity for Nigerian born striker Lanre Kehinde. At the other end Gal Malka struck Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason's uprights and Dor Hoogie headed wide from close range. But as the halftime whistle blew neither side had managed to get on the scoreboard.
It took Maccabi Tel Aviv less than ten minutes after the restart to break the ice. Striker Dor Jan crossed from the left and Sharon Ziso jumped high above the opposition defence to head in his tenth goal of the season. Dor Hoogie, whose late strike earned his side a dramatic 1-1 draw in the opposite fixture during the first round of league matches, came close to equalising once again but his bounced shot over the head of substitute keeper Gal Tuvali strayed wide of the net. Maccabi Tel Aviv's midfielder Dror Sagi had an excellent opportunity to extend his team's lead when he found himself one on one with the Haifa keeper, but his shot went wide. In the end the result remained 1-0 to Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" and a handsome record of 13 victories in 15 games in the second round of league matches for the lads under the able stewardship of head coach Amir Turgeman.
Line-up: Sahar Hason, Shachar Feban, Osher Abu, Shaun Goldberg, Dean Akafi, Yarden Pinto, Dor Peretz, Sagi Dror, Sharon Ziso, Dor Jan, Lanre Kehinde
