Maccabi's U19s sweep aside Hapoel Haifa 6-1 at Kiryat Shalom as Yonatan Cohen nets two. Eliel Peretz, Sohil Armeli, Matan Hozez and Dor Galili all add on
On the eve of matchweek 3 of the national Under-19 Premier League, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" came into their home tie against Hapoel Haifa with two wins from their first two matches. Head coach Ziv Arie's charges today proceeded to make that three from three with an impressive 6-1 triumph over their northern guests at Kiryat Shalom training ground. Two of the goals came before the interval, as did the one opposition goal. But after the restart Maccabi added an additional four to achieve their highest goal tally of the new season.
Arie opened the match with an attacking formation that included three strikers up front – Raz Yitzhak, Stav Ben Aharon and Yonatan Cohen. And with just ten minutes on the clock it was Cohen who drew first blood, taking a smart pass out wide from midfielder Sohil Armeli and curling the ball with his left foot past the Haifa keeper Romeo Nofo at the far post for his maiden goal of the season. Just under the half hour mark it was Cohen once again on the scoreboard, this time from a set piece, driving a free kick from the edge of the area past Nofi to make it 2-0 for the home side. Two minutes from the break Hapoel Haifa managed to pull one back when Stanley Samson's shot from inside the area took a deflection and wrong-footed "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason.
After the restart Maccabi stepped up the pressure and ten minutes in Sohil Armeli threaded a pass through to fellow midfielder Eliel Peretz unmarked in the area who poked in to make it 3-1. Coming on off the bench defender Ofek Barzani and midfielder Matan Hozez each left choice opportunities go begging, but towards the end of the match "Shachar" regained their touch. Ten minutes from time Sohil Armeli went from provider to goalscorer, taking an excellent cross from fellow midfielder Maxim Gretschkin and rifling past the keeper into the bottom corner of the net. Goal number five came just two minutes from time courtesy of Matan Hozez, whose maiden goal found the near post in a fine individual effort. The final touch came in injury time, a debut goal from a debut player, as striker Dor Galili tapped in a cross to finish the scoring at 6-1.
Matchweek 4 will take place on Tuesday October 7th when Maccabi Tel Aviv will travel to Wolfson training ground for their first season derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv.
