The Under-17 squad took home the League Championship over the weekend and this evening they completed the Double by winning the Israel State Cup title. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side defeated Maccabi Haifa 3:1 at the Moshava Stadium closing out a most successful campaign. An own goal by Amram Pellis and markers by Sahar Barami and Yarin Mesika helped the Yellow & Blue to the win.
First Half
The match opened up with both sides playing tentative football, however the Greens threatened the Maccabi goal in the 12th minute as keeper Daniel Peretz was forced to make a quality stop to keep the contest goalless early on. In the 24th minute, Amit Glezer led the attack leaving the ball for Mufleh Shalata who crossed it to Sahar Barami but the latter missed the in close opportunity.
Just two minutes later, the young Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead thanks to an own goal by Amram Pellis who tried to clear the ball out of danger, however put it behind his own keeper instead. But the advantage was short lived as Haifa drew even at 1:1 in the 30th minute via striker Shadi Masarva who took a terrific deep ball from Omer Levi and scored the equalizer. The Greens continued to press and almost took the lead right before the break but Atamit Mor’s opportunity hit the post as the sides went into the half even at 1:1.
Second Half
The Yellow & Blue came out strong to begin the second half as Yoav Hopenmeister’s effort just went over the bar. But just six minutes later, Shalata stole the ball on the right side and made a pinpoint cross right to Sahar Barami in the box who scored to give Maccabi “Oded” a 2:1 lead. Barami almost scored again in the 60th minute taking a terrific ball from the right but skied it over the bar. The Under-17’s looked for an insurance marker and would find just that in the 80th minute when substitute Yarin Mesika came into the box, got past his defender and scored into the left corner to give Maccabi a 3:1 advantage that would hold up to take home the State Cup Title and complete the Double!
