MTA's Under-19s closed the gap on Maccabi Haifa to eight points with their second draw of the season. Sharon Ziso and Guy Cohen were the goalscorers for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" played host on Saturday to Maccabi Netanya and hoped for a third successive win to firmly establish their second-place position in the national Under-19 Premier League table. Playing in blue, "Shachar" were first on the scoreboard after just twelve minutes courtesy of a goal from Sharon Ziso, but the cold weather and waterlogged pitch proved no impediment to the visitors and by the time the match had reached the half hour mark the guests from Netanya had turned the match around and led 1-2. A goal from Guy Cohen ensured a 2-2 scoreline when the teams left the pitch at halftime and so it ended after the full 90 minutes.
Both sides came into the match at Kiryat Shalom in good form. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" had recorded five wins in their last six matches, Maccabi Netanya four in their last five. Tel Aviv drew first blood after just twelve minutes when Sharon Ziso netted a Dor Jan back header for his second goal in as many matches, having scored his maiden goal of the season last week. Netanya recovered quickly and two minutes later scored the equaliser off the boot of Yair Ziv. Fifteen minutes later they were already out in front when Lee Agami prodded in from close range. But Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s lads in blue didn't give up and found an equaliser before the end of an entertaining and goal-studded first half. This time it was the turn of Guy Cohen, who took advantage of a Netanya defensive error in the area to slot home his sixth goal of the season.
The second half was a less stormy affair, both in terms of weather and events on the pitch. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" pressed on but chances that fell to Guy Cohen, Mansur Amash and Guy Aviv all went begging. At the final whistle it was still, as at halftime, a 2-2 draw and Maccabi's yellows-in-blue had missed an opportunity to close to six points the gap on their rivals at the top of the table, Maccabi Haifa, who lost 0-2 to Ashdod FC. Next week the two Under-19 teams will meet in Haifa, giving Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" a chance to end the first round of Under-19 Premier League matches just five points off the top.
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar": Sahar Hason, Shachar Feban, Mansor Amash Daniel Schwartzbaum, Shaun Goldberg, Tamir Avrahamian, Dor Buzaglo, Sharon Ziso, Daniel Gretz, Dor Jan
