Matchday 12 of the Israel Youth Premier League Ligat Ha’Al saw Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv host Maccabi Netanya at the Ramle Stadium. The young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 4th place with 3 straight wins while Netanya began the day in first place. Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s attack included Eylon Almog, Eyal Hen and William Agada.
The balance of the starting lineup featured Daniel Peretz in goal along with Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Tomer Machluf, Tamir Glazer, Eden Kartzev and
Prince Thomas.
First Half
The match began with most of the play taking place in the midfield as either club couldn’t break free for a chance on goal. Finally in the 12’ Almog took a short corner on the right side of the pitch, took a fine attempt but the opposing keeper Amit Merijen blocked the ball and sent it out.
In the 18’ the visitors had their first opportunity as they tried to find the goal from long distance but the ball was blocked by the Maccabi defense while 7 minutes later Netanya’s Yuness Malada took a ball at the top of the box but his shot went out. As the match hit the 37’ Kartzev sent a through ball to Eyal Hen on the left and went past a couple of defenders, sent it to Agada but his fine attempt was blocked by the keeper as the half ended goalless.
Second Half
The Yellow & Blue looked to score early on in the second half and in the 47’ Tamir Glazer sent the ball to Agada who turned in the box but was stopped by the Netanya defense while immediately after that Kartzev’s free kick was blasted at the visitors goal but Merijen made the save. In the 56’ Malada again threatened the Maccabi goal as he went into the box, but Peretz was up to the task and made the timely stop.
As the match continued at a quick pace, Netanya’s Ohad Hazot tried his luck from long distance in the 65’ but the ball went out while ten minutes later the striker Ram Goaga’s header was caught by Peretz as the visitors came closer and closer to scoring. And one minute later that’s exactly what they did to take the lead as Mustafa Baransi left Malada the ball which he promptly put into the Maccabi goal for a 1:0 lead.
Maccabi came close to drawing even two minutes later as Muflah Shalata sent a cross to Agada in the middle of the box, but his attempt just went over the bar while in the 83’ Sahar Barami also gave Agada a terrific ball but he sent it over the goal. As the match neared its end, Peretz made a finger tip save keeping out a Netanya insurance goal in the 90’ which turned out to be crucial as deep into stoppage time, Tomer Altman who had come on as a substitute found Vaturi who headed home the tying goal to split the points in a 1:1 draw.
