The Under-19 club visited Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 27 of the Israel Youth Premier League Ligat Ha’Al, entering the day in first place with a 3 point lead over Hapoel Raanana. Netanya came into the contest with only 2 wins out of their last 8 matches and in 3rd place.

Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included, keeper Daniel Peretz, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Yoav Hofmayster, Amit Glazer, Tomer Altman, Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Eylon Almog and William Agada.

First Half
The match began with each side playing tentative football as the opening opportunity occurred in the 8’ when the host’s found the back of the Maccabi goal. Shlav Samorolo took the ball on the right side and crossed into the box to Eyad Haj who put it into the far corner for a 1:0 Netanya advantage.

In the 19’ Maccabi drew a penalty and had a chance to tie up the game when Altman sent the ball to Agada who double passed with Thomas, but Agada was pulled down by a Netanya defender good for a spot kick from 11 meters. Almog stepped up to take the penalty but the keeper Amit Marjin made the save. However, Tzarfati’s charges didn’t let up and continued looking for the equalizer as Najar passed the ball to Agada on the left wing who found Shalata breaking down the side but his chance was also taken care of by Marjin.

Shalata then found Altman in the middle of the pitch who made his way into the area but his attempt couldn’t find the target in the 26’ while 4 minutes later Yunes Malada almost doubled the Netanya lead, but Peretz parried the ball away to safety for a corner.

In the 35’ Altman sent a beauty of a through ball to Agada who beat the keeper to draw even at 1:1. Almog had a chance in the box to take the lead late in the first half but his shot deflected off a Netanya player and went out for a corner while the host’s also had an opportunity to take the lead but Peretz made the save as the side’s went into the break deadlocked at 1:1.

Second Half
Malada had the first chance of the second half when he went down the right side and crossed to Haj in the box, but his one on one attempt against Peretz went off the bar. In the 53’ Maccabi took a 2:1 lead when Shalata went down the right wing and sent the ball into the box to an awaiting Almog who turned and found the far corner of the goal for a gorgeous strike.

Almog had a chance to score his second of the match in the 67’ but Marjin made the save after a nice team play. Maccabi then took control of the pace of play and scored an insurance goal via Hen who took a nice Altman ball and picked up the young Yellow & Blue’s 3rd of the match in the 90’ to take the 3:1 win.