Matchday 8 of the Youth Israel Premier League saw Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv host SC Ashdod at Kiryat Shalom. The young Yellow & Blue are in 7th place on the table while Ashdod sits in 5th and have gone three matches without a defeat.
Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included: Daniel Peretz, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Tomer Machluf, Eden Kartzev, Yoav Hofmayster, Netanel Peretz, Muflah Shalata, Eyal Hen, Eyal Hen.
First Half
Maccabi “Shachar” had their first chance in the 8’ when Hofmayster sent a through ball to Almog who left it for Kartzev, but his shot went off of a defender and went over the bar by centimeters. A minute later, Shalata found Almog who put the ball in the goal but was called offside by the referee as the Yellow & Blue continued to control the pace of play.
In the 15’ Ashdod had a dangerous chance via Gal Aviv but Peretz was in place to clear the ball to safety, however, five minutes later the visitors took the lead. Yoni Siasi picked up the ball in the middle of pitch and went in on Peretz who couldn’t stop the striker for a 1:0 advantage. Ashdod took a two goal lead in the 25’ when Siasi took a loose ball and again put it by Peretz to make it 2:0. In the 35’ Shalata tried his luck from long distance but the Ashdod keeper made the save. Right before the break, Avi Butbol had an opportunity from inside the box, but Peretz made the terrific save to keep the deficit as is after 45 minutes.
Second Half
Prince Thomas came in at the start of the second half and had a chance to pull a goal back in the 51’ but his fine attempt went off of Ashdod defender and out, while two minutes later, Hen left a ball for Almog but his shot went over the goal.
In the 65’ Kartzev left the ball for Thomas who in turn sent a powerful shot towards the goal, but the Ashdod keeper came up big yet again to keep his clean sheet intact. Two minutes later, Cohen came steaming down the right side and crossed the ball to Hen but his chance went out. Finally the Yellow & Blue would cut the lead to 2:1 when Netanel Peretz found Almog who beat the Ashdod keeper. Maccabi almost found the equalizer five minutes later when Hen sent the ball to Almog on the left who in turn crossed it to Peretz, but his header just grazed the post and went out. Almog had one last chance to draw the hosts even but the Ashdod keeper made the stop yet again as Maccabi fell 2:1.
