Maccabi's senior squad, minus internationals, played the club's U19s in a friendly and won 5-2
With five players off on international duty and a weekend without first flight action, Maccabi Tel Aviv's senior team took the opportunity of testing their skills against the next generation of first-string players, the Under-19s, in a friendly match played at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Head coach Pako Ayesteran also used the opportunity to start a number of players who have seen less time on the pitch in recent matches. One of them, midfielder Dan Einbinder, has only recently returned to full training after recovering from a serious foot injury. Another, young international goalkeeper Barak Levi, will be opening in goal when the team return to league duties against Ironi Kiryat Shmona on the 24th of November. Fullback Yoav Ziv was also among Pako's starting eleven for the match. Not included were the five Israeli internationals set to face Bosnia tomorrow night in their Euro 2016 qualifier. The Under-19s too had three of their number on international duty for Israel's Under-19s: Captain Dan Glazer, defender Guy Aviv and midfielder Matan Hozez.
Surprisingly it was head coach Ziv Arie's Under-19s that got off to the brighter start and just three minutes in striker Raz Yitzhak did well to latch on to a pass from fellow striker Yonatan Cohen before rounding the keeper and poking in a 0-1 lead for the juniors. Ten minutes later the seniors were level when midfielder Dor Micha pounced on a defensive error and shot high into the net of U19 keeper Sahar Hason for 1-1. Minutes before the end of the 40-minute half, the U19 Congolese striker Mavis Chibote hit the bar, but it was senior striker Barak Badash who was ruled onside when he put his side ahead 2-1 at the break.
The second half opened with a quick equaliser by Yonatan Cohen, who converted a penalty awarded for ball handling in the U19 area. But again the youth team's lead held no more than ten minutes, with Barak Badash completing his brace with a shot from outside the area. On the hour mark, Pako made no less than six changes to his side, sending on defender Carlos Garcia, strikers Eden Ben Basat and Rade Prica and midfielders Nosa Igiebor, Nikola Mitrovic and Gal Alberman. The substitutes quickly found their feet and eight minutes later Ben Basat headed on to the Nigerian Igiebor who scored the senior's fourth goal from close range. Rade Prica, who only last Sunday scored a brace in the league against Maccabi Netanya, finished off the scoring at 5-2.
After the match, Dan Einbinder remarked: "After a fortnight back in full training I was very happy to get back out on the pitch, even if it was a friendly. I'd like to thank to medical staff who've been right at my side throughout my recovery. And good luck to Israel tomorrow".
Senior team line-up: Barak Levi, Yuval Shpungin, Dor Peretz, Sean Goldberg, Yoav Ziv, Dan Einbinder, Ben Reichert, Mahran Radi, Dor Micha, Gael Margulies, Barak Badash.
Under-19 line-up: Sahar Hason, Shachar Fiban, Edan Yogev, Sheked Azulay, Ofek Barzani, Sohil Armeli, Eliel Peretz, Gabriel Kanikovski , Mavis Chibote, Raz Yitzhak.
