Maccabi visited Wassermil Stadium looking to end a two game losing streak against Hapoel Beer Sheva as coach Ziv Arie started Yarin Sharabi who was promoted from the Under-17 side.
The hosts started off strong with a terrific opportunity in the third minute by Liel Sasportas, however keeper Hen Ozeri made the initial save right on the goal line and Guy Aviv who was wearing the captain’s armband made the second stop to keep the game goalless early on.
Yarin Sharabi who was making his debut with the Under-19 team gave the young Yellow-and-Blue a quality chance in the 19th minute when he laid the ball off for Eylon Almog but the striker’s weak effort went into the waiting hands of the Beer Sheva keeper Ido Arlaki. Sharabi sent another fantastic ball to Almog but his attempt went wide of the goal just minutes later.
In the 39th minute Beer Sheva broke the deadlock when a Sasportas 20 meter free kick found the back of the goal to give the southern side a 1:0 advantage. The lead didn’t last long as Maccabi found the equalizer in the 44th minute. Amit Rosenboim lifted a ball into the box and found Arlaki out of position as the visitors drew even 1:1. Right before the whistle blew to end the first 45 minutes, Shay Golan was shown a yellow card as the sides went into the break all knotted up at 1:1.
Head Coach Ziv Arie made two substitutions to begin the second frame as Tomer Altman and Omri Haramati were introduced in place of Shay Golan and Eylon Almog. Just two minutes into the half, Oliel Peretz scooted past the central defender and beat Arlaki to give Maccabi “Shachar” a 2:1 lead.
The Yellow-and-Blue then controlled the flow of the match, however chances by Kanichowsky, Peretz, Sharabi and others couldn’t cushion their advantage. But Thomas Prince who came in for Sharabi in the 72nd minute took a fabulous pass five minutes later, turned and swung the ball into the corner of the goal for his maiden marker to give his side a 3:1 lead.
Or Dasa also got into the act and added a goal of his own when he received a deep pass by Kanichowsky brought the ball down with his chest and slammed it behind Arlaki to give the Yellow-and-Blue a 4:1 victory.
