Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar”, the club’s under-19 side, on Saturday affirmed their fine form by registering a 1:0 win over Hapoel Rishon Lezion in the seventh round of the youth league.
Maccabi dominated from the start and already had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, but Tal Torgeman’s effort was ruled offisde.
In the 24th minute, Rishon were saved by the crossbar after a powerful Ronen Hanchkis shot but Torgeman, who was again in the fray, put his shot off the rebound wide.
Two more attempts late in the half by Asaf Hershko and Shai Balahssen tested Rishon’s goalkeeper, who managed to keep the ball out on both occasions.
Maccabi dominated after the restart and had several chances, with Nadav Nidam and Omer Itzhaki both threatening but the breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute when Rave Asayag controlled a rebounding ball in the area and swivelled to shoot put the ball in the net.
Nehorhi Biton almost added a second in injury time, but his shot narrowly missed the target.
