A stellar second-half performance handed Maccabi's Under-19s an easy 3-0 win against Hapoel Beer Sheva
A week after losing their first league match of the 2014/15 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were keen to provide an immediate response and return to winning ways. What stood in their way for the first 45 minutes this Saturday at the Kiryat Shalom training ground were Hapoel Beer Sheva, who succeeded in holding Maccabi to a goalless stalemate until the break. After the restart however "Shachar" produced a stellar performance and slammed three past their southern opponents without reply, two from the foot of midfielder Matan Hozez and the third from fellow midfielder Eliel Peretz.
Head coach Ziv Arie made four changes to the squad that lost last week at Beitar Jerusalem, adding senior squad defender Shean Goldberg, striker Stav Ben Aharon and midfielders Gabriel Kanikovski and Matan Hozez to his first eleven. The first player to threaten the Beer Sheva goal though was Eliel Peretz, who latched on to a ball left by striker Mavis Tchibota at the edge of the area and drew a good save from visiting keeper Raz Rahamim. Fifteen minutes later it was Rahamim again sparing his side a deficit by slapping Matan Hozez's well curled corner onto the bar. These were the only Maccabi threats of note until Stav Ben Aharon and Gabriel Kanikovski came close to scoring in the final moments of the half.
After the restart "Shachar" turned up the heat and the effects were felt almost immediately. Five minutes in Maccabi were awarded a penalty and Matan Hozez did the honours to put the home side 1-0 in front. Thereafter "Shachar" continued to create chances and just short of the hour mark it was once again Mavis Tchibota providing for Eliel Peretz. This time though the midfielder hit his mark, scoring high in the net to double Maccabi's advantage. Later team captain Dan Glazer also came close to scoring his maiden goal for the Under-19s after being set up brilliantly by striker Dor Galili but the Beer Sheva keeper stood in his way. After 75 minutes though Rahamim was no longer able to stop Maccabi's third, provided by substitute striker Yonatan Cohen and scored again by Matan Hozez, his sixth goal of the season.
This 3-0 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva keeps Maccabi second in the U19 Premier League table, trailing by the same two points Maccabi Haifa, who beat Beitar Jerusalem by the same 3-0 scoreline.
Line-up: Haviv Ohayon, Sheked Azulay, Shachar Fiban, Sean Goldberg, Maxim Gretschkin, Dan Glazer, Eliel Peretz, Gabriel Kanikovski, Matan Hozez, Stav Ben Aharon, Mavis Tchibota.
Photographs: Chen Seders
