Maccabi's U19s score four goals in a match for the third time in the young season, beating Ashdod FC 4-0 to stay top of the league
All in a day's work: A fifth consecutive victory, a fourth league tie scoring four or more goals, a collective goal difference of 19 scored to one reply and the league's brand new top goalscorer. With their matchweek five 4-0 victory over Ashdod FC at the Kiryat Shalom training ground, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" achieved all of the above and maintained their positon atop of the national U19 Premier League into the bargain. As in all of their previous four matches this season, head coach Arie Ziv's charges completely dominated affairs on the pitch and left their rivals chanceless. A first-half goal by striker Jonaton Cohen and a second-half brace by midfielder Sohil Armeli and an additional strike by forward Dor Galili made it the third time this season "Shachar" have won by a scoreline of four goals to nil.
Dressed today in blue, "Shachar" hit the ground running and were already in search of their first goal in the early moments of the match. Jonatan Cohen, who scored braces in both of the previous two matches, led the posse and on 18 minutes converted an excellent pass from defender Guy Aviv to give his side a 1-0 advantage. Moments after scoring his fifth left-footed goal, Cohen decided to diversify and headed a ball that narrowly missed the target. But the barrage of attempts on the Ashdod goal continued with an effort from the edge of the area by midfielder Matan Hozez, saved by the Ashdod keeper, and an additional attempt by fellow midfielder Eliel Peretz. Just before the break striker Mavis Chibote came close with two additional efforts but the half-time scoreboard displayed the same 1-0 Maccabi advantage.
Three minutes after the restart that advantage grew exponentially as "Shachar" once again started brightly and scored twice inside a minute, both times courtesy of Sohil Armeli, who has scored in every match so far this season and with six goals in five matches now sits joint top of the league's goalscorers with Sean Weisman of Maccabi Haifa. That brace and the 3-0 scoreline took whatever wind was left in the sails of the opposition, despite an attempt by Hadar Levi that was saved by "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason. At the other end, Maccabi substitutes continued the quest to extend the margin: Striker Raz Yitzhak twice came close with a header and an opening at goal but it was Dor Galili who provided the fourth, pouncing on a deflection of a Sohil Armeli free kick.
Matchday 6 will provide Maccabi's Under-19s with a further opportunity to extend their run of excellent form when they travel to Hapoel Ra'anana.
