Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s failed to hold on to a slim one goal second-half lead and lost 2-1 in the dying moments to Hapoel Rishon Lezion
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" missed a golden opportunity this Saturday to close the gap at the top of the national U19 Premier League table after a dramatic last-minute away loss to Hapoel Rishon Lezion. Head coach Amir Turgeman's charges came to modern Israel's oldest settlement on the back of five consecutive league wins and trailing league leaders Maccabi Haifa by seven points. After a goalless first half, Dor Jan provided the visitors with a one-goal margin half way through the second half, but the hosts equalised five minutes later and in added time sealed their victory with a goal from Ya'acov Barihon.
Both sides performed well in the first half, attacking their opponents and creating a number of good chances. Maccabi charged down the flanks with wingers Sagiv Yehezkiel and Guy Cohen and threatened their opponent's goal on several occasions. At the other end, two excellent opportunities at the start of the match by rivals Rishon were stopped by Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" goalkeeper Sahar Hason. The best chance fell to Maccabi midfielder Sharon Zisso who headed onto the bar, but as the halftime whistle blew the teams remained deadlocked in a goalless draw.
In the second half it was Maccabi substitute midfielder Dor Peretz that caused the first real threat to Rishon's goal with a shot from outside the area that skimmed over the crossbar. But on 70 minutes it was a second Maccabi substitute, Dor Jan, who put his stamp on the game. The Maccabi skipper was the first to meet Shaun Goldberg's cross and smash it into the Rishon net to put Maccabi one goal to the good. It was his ninth goal of the season. Unfortunately for Maccabi the advantage held for a mere five minutes when Rishon midfielder Shai Beton's free kick ricocheted off the defensive wall and found its way into the Maccabi goal. And despite their efforts to get back in front, it was Maccabi who deep in injury time found themselves fishng a second ball out of their own goal when Rishon forward Ya'acov Barihon turned in a cross and handed his club a dramatic 2-1 victory.
With leaders Maccabi Haifa losing to Hapoel Tel Aviv 4-1, Maccabi missed a golden opportunity to close the gap and remain seven points off the pace. Next week Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will host Hapoel Jerusalem in the fourth round of the prestigious Under-19 State Cup competition.
Line-up: Sahar Hason, Rotem Boskila, Daniel Schwartzbaum, Osher Abu, Shaun Goldberg, Dor Buzaglo, Roy Ya'ir, Sharon Zisso, Guy Cohen, Sagiv Yehezkiel, Lanre Kehinde
