Matchday 22 of the Israel Youth Premier League featured Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv against Maccabi Haifa at Ramle Stadium. The young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 2nd place with 10 wins in their last 13 fans while the Greens sat in 4th place.
Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included Daniel Peretz in goal, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Yoav Hofmayster, Tamir Glazer, Tomer Altman (C), Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Eylon Almog, William Agada.
First Half
Maccabi had the first chance of the match in the 5’ when Almog took the ball in the center of the pitch and made his way towards the box, but his long distance opportunity hit a defender. But the ball rebounded back to Almog but his shot was saved by Sherif Kioff and sent out for a corner. A minute later, Tzarfati’s side again had a chance at the goal when Thomas sent the ball to Agada who smashed the ball out.
In the 8’ central defender Fadi Najar tried his luck from outside the box with a hard shot, but the attempt just grazed the ball. Two minutes later Altman went across the midfield and sent a through ball to Almog, but his attempt his shot went off the post. In the 12’ the Greens has their opening chance when striker Gal Katabi sent the ball towards the target but Peretz was in place to send the balk out for a corner. As the match hit the 17’ Maccabi took the lead when Shtrozberg sent a through ball to the left wing right to an awaiting Cohen who loved to the top of the box and made a pinpoint perfect pass to Thomas who found the back of the goal for a 1:0 advantage.
As the match hit the 20’ the young Yellow & Blue almost doubled their output but Agada’s chance just whistled by the post. Fifteen minutes later the Yellow & Blue had another opportunity when Cohen sent a through ball to Shalata on the left wing who went by a couple of defenders and Agada’s shot went off a defender to end the threat. In the 40’ Haifa central defender Giorgi Drasila took a long shot but Peretz was in place to make the save as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Almog began the Half well as Almog received a terrific ball just at the top of the box but his attempt was saved by Kioff. In the 63’ Guy Dahan who came on as a substitute for the Greens took a chance from far out but the ball went out while ten minutes later Haifa almost drew even when Mohamed Caanan’s chance was saved by Peretz but the rebound went to Maor Levi who sent the ball into the Yellow & Blue defense. The Greens again threatened the Maccabi goal in the 77’ when Timothy crossed the ball from the right but Dahan’s attempt just missed the post. Two minutes later Agada’s shot went out.
Haifa drew even when the referees called a penalty as they determined that the Maccabi defense pulled the striker down in the box which Yam Cohen converted to make the score 1:1. In the 88’ Agada received p the ball at the top of the box, turned and unleashed a vicious shot but it hit the outside netting of the goal while two minutes later Yam Cohen again headed the ball out as the contest ended in a 1:1 draw.
