Maccabi's U19s suffered only their second season defeat, and their first at home, 1-3 to Ironi Kiryat Shmona
There's never a "good" time to lose, especially not at home. But Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", who suffered their first home loss of the season 1-3 at the hands of Ironi Kiryat Shmoni, can take some consolation from the fact that at the same time their chief U19 Premier League title rivals Maccabi Haifa also lost, and to a team that Maccabi's Under-19s only last week beat comprehensively 0-8, Sektzia Nes Tsiona. After "Shachar" striker Yonatan Cohen succeeded in equalising twenty minutes from time, it looked like a draw, or perhaps even a win, against Kiryat Shmona might return "Shachar" to the top spot in the national U19 Premier League table. Alas, those hopes were scuttled by the visitors with two quick and surprising goals close to the end of the match, leaving "Shachar" with their first home defeat of the 2014/15 season.
Only after twenty odd minutes of sizing one another up did either of the two contestants at the Kiryat Shalom training ground raise their game. At that point, after an impressive personal effort, Maccabi striker Mavis Tchibota sent a high ball to fellow striker Yonatan Cohen who headed in, only to see the linesman's flag go up at the touchline. Moments later at the other end the visitors let an excellent chance go begging when Maccabi keeper Haviv Ohayon stopped Kiryat Shmona's Ophir Takiar, whom he faced on his own. But a few minutes later the Maccabi defence proved less effective in stopping Ujuko Ugo from putting Kiryat Shmona out in front 0-1, a scoreline that held until half time.
News of Maccabi Haifa's loss might have proved a motivating factor for head coach Ziv Arie's side after the restart, but the pattern established in the first half continued and until halfway through the second half "Shachar" struggled to open up any holes in the Kiryat Shmona defences. That is until the 69th minute, when Yonatan converted a free kick by shooting high into the Kiryat Shmona net to draw his side level and bring his season total to eleven goals in as many league outings. Two minutes later substitute striker Raz Itzhak had an excellent chance to put Maccabi ahead but his low strike in front of goal rolled wide. But just as "Shachar" seemed to gathering a head of steam, Kiryat Shmona struck twice in succession. On 77 minutes Ujuko Ugo got his second, poking in a deflected Karam Ashrad cross from the goalline. Five minutes later Ugo completed his hat-trick, turning in a second cross at the far post to establish an unassailable 1-3 advantage.
It was only the second loss of the season for Maccabi's Under-19s and their first at Kiryat Shalom. Unable to take advantage of Maccabi Haifa's loss, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar' remain in second place in the national U19 Premier League table, trailing the league leaders by the same two points. Next Saturday the two top teams will meet one another at Kiryat Shalom.
Line-up: Haviv Ohayon, Shachar Fiban, Shaked Azulay, Sean Goldberg, Saar Kalderon, Dan Glazer, Eliel Peretz, Gabriel Kanikovski, Matan Hozez, Mavis Tchibota, Yonatan Cohen.
