Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv hosted Bnei Yehuda on Matchday 18 of the Israel Youth Premier League Ligat Ha’Al. The young Yellow & Blue came into the contest in 2nd place with 8 wins in 9 matches while Bnei Yehuda found themselves in 11th place with 2 wins in their last 8 contests. Guy Tzarfati’s attack featured Netanel Peretz, Mufleh Shalata and Eylon Almog.
Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Tomer Machluf, Tamir Glazer, Yoav Hofmayster, Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Netanel Peretz and Eylon Almog.
First Half
Over the first quarter hour of action neither side threatened the opponent’s goal as Maccabi had the contest’s first chance in the 20’ when Hofmayster put a ball through to Peretz who attempted a bicycle kick but his effort went out.
In the 30’ Tamir Glazer sent a through ball from the right to Peretz who in turn tried to send it to Almog but the Bnei Yehuda defense cleared the threat. Just prior to the break, the young Yellow & Blue took the lead as Thomas fought for the ball, sent it intelligently over the defense to Peretz who went one on one against the visiting keeper. His attempt then went off a defender and into the goal for a 1:0 advantage after 45 minutes of action.
Second Half
The second half began just as the first ended with another Maccabi goal. In the 50’ Amit Glazer took the ball on the right, made his way into the box going by two defenders, sent it into the middle to Shalata who headed it home for a 2:0 lead. The young Yellow & Blue continued to pressure Bnei Yehuda and in the 55’ Shalata sent a pass to Shalata but his shot went out. One minute later, Bnei Yehuda had a chance to cut the lead but Dani Amar’s header just cleared the bar.
Eyal Hen who came on as a substitute almost helped to add the third goal but his cross to Almog was stopped by the Bnei Yehuda keeper, while the ensuing header allowed the visitors a chance to counter but Najar cleared the ball from any danger.
In the 74’ Almog stole the ball in the midfield went by a pair of defenders and sent his chance to the far corner. The keeper was able to get a hand on the ball as it dropped to Thomas who passed it to Almog as he tried to go around the keeper but was pulled down, good for a penalty that the aforementioned Thomas slotted home for a 3:0 lead.
Yunis Jabarin, who came on as a substitute for Peretz went down the right, cut towards the middle of the pitch and sent a shot from long distance that the keeper just caught to stem the threat. Two minutes later, Almog also streaked down the right and sent the ball to Sahar Berami who put his attempt into the Bnei Yehuda defense as Maccabi took the 3-points and the win.
