Prematch
Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visited Hapoel “Yehuda” Rishon Le’Zion on Matchday 2 of the Youth Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. The young Yellow & Blue came into the contest after a draw last week while the hosts fell in their first match of the season. Maccabi Head Coach Guy Tzarfati opened the contest with Eyal Hen, Netanel Peretz and Eylon Almog up front while Amit and Tamir Glazer anchored the defense as 6 players from 2000 were in the Starting XI.
First Half
Maccabi had the first chance of the contest in the 8th minute when Tomer Altman gave Eyal Hen the ball on the left wing who lifted it into the box, but Prince Thomas’s effort went over the goal.
In the ‘18, Rishon had an attempt off of a free kick that went into the area but the host’s opportunity went out. Two minutes later, the Yellow & Blue almost took the lead as Altman again crossed the ball that was cleared to Hen by the Rishon defenders, but his chance went off of a player and out. Almog had Maccabi’s next attempt but the Rishon keeper made the stop. Eden Kartsev almost found the back of the goal in the ‘24 but the keeper once again made the save on the line.
However, it would be the hosts who would take the lead in the ‘26 thanks to a free kick that mixed up the Yellow & Blue defense as Rishon found the back of the goal for a 1:0 lead. Four minutes later Almog sent a deep pass to Hen on the left side went to the middle and beat the host keeper to draw even at 1:1. Thomas tried to put Maccabi into the lead but his shot was saved by the alert keeper as the sides went into the break knotted up at 1:1.
Second Half
Hen found substitute Mufleh Shalata’s head who sent the ball to Almog but his ‘51 chance was blocked by the Rishon defenders.
Six minutes later Kartsev almost put his side up but the ball hit the post while in the ‘60 Daniel Peretz was in place to save a dangerous chance from 16 meters by the hosts. Both sides traded chances over the next ten minutes with Almog threatening the Rishon goal from in close via his feet and head.
In the ‘82 Kartsev had another wonderful chance from 35 meters but the Rishon keeper made the stop. With the contest winding down it would be hosts who would find the winner in the ‘85 to collect the three points and send the U19’s to their first loss of the season.
