An Ofek Barzani brace handed Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s an important victory over Maccabi Netanya and elevated them to the second spot in the national Under-19 Premier League table
Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s continued their good form in an away tie against Maccabi Netanya with an important 0-2 victory. The Under-19s went into the match, played at Maccabi Netanya's brand new training complex, having won five of their last six matches and having narrowed the gap with national Under-19 Premier League leaders Maccabi Haifa to four points.
Here too it became apparent that head coach Arie Ziv's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" had no intention of taking their foot off the gas. They dominated from the very start of the contest and just three minutes from kick-off that dominance expressed itself in the scoreline. An accurate cross by defender Saar Kalderon found fellow defender Ofek Barzani, today playing in attack, who struck into the Netanya net to give his side a 0-1 advantage. "Shachar" continued to dominate and midfielder Shaked Azulay tried to score his first goal of the season but his effort from inside the area went high. The hosts came close to an equaliser, capitalising on an error in the "Shachar" defence, but keeper Sahar Hason blocked the resulting shot. At the other end midfielder Daniel Gretz came very close to doubling "Shachar"'s advantage but his shot strayed wide, and the sides left the pitch at the halftime whistle with Maccabi Tel Aviv still leading 0-1.
After the restart Netanya threatened with a free kick that hit the woodwork, but thereafter "Shachar" embarked on a series of attacks that would ultimately lead to their second goal. Five minutes before the hour mark striker Sohil Armeli crossed to Barzani in space, who sent a powerful header past the Netanya keeper for his, and his team's, second goal of the day. "Shachar" looked confident with their two-goal cushion, but another defensive error forced a second save by Hason of a shot by Netanya's Nour Bissan. In the time remaining three "Shachar" substitutes tried their luck at widening the team's advantage, but efforts by striker Yonatan Cohen and midfielders Isaac Schuach and Eliel Peretz all missed their targets. Defender Guy Aviv also threatened, but Netanya keeper Dean Gal was there to save.
At the final whistle, though, Barzani's brace proved sufficient and Maccabi's Under-19s recorded their six victory in seven outings and their sixth straight match without conceding a goal. The victory lifted Ziv Arie's charges to second place in the national Under-19 Premier League table at the expense of Beitar Tubruk, who could only manage a goalless draw against Ashdod FC. "Shachar" remain four points behind league leaders Maccabi Haifa, who won 1-5 at Ironi Kiryat Shmona.
