Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv advanced to the second round of UEFA Youth Champions League action after defeating Anzhi Makhachkala 3:0 in the second leg (5:3 aggregate) thanks to a hat trick by Eduardo Guerrero (7, 90, 90) and will now await the winner of Maribor and Sigma Olomouc.
Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Bat Cohen, Eyal Hen.
First Half
Maccabi began the match well and in the 4’ the Yellow & Blue had their first good chance of the contest when Guerrero sent the ball to Hofmayster, but his shot went off a defender. However, three minutes later Maccabi took a 1:0 lead when Hen was pulled down in the box by a Russian defender good for a penalty which Guerrero converted to give Maccabi the advantage.
In the 15’ Anzhi had their first opportunity but Itzhak made the stop while 9 minutes later Guerrero almost scored his second of the game after he made his way into the box but his attempt missed the target. In the 27’ the Yellow & Blue stole the ball as Assayag fed Hen but his chance came up empty while 11 minutes later Assayag sent another pass to Hen but the ball was just out of his reach.
As the match hit the 40’ Cohen’s opportunity missed the goal by centimeters while Shahar’s chance two minutes later was cleared by the Anzhi defense as the side’s went into the break with Maccabi holding a 1:0 lead.
Second half
In the 53’ Anzhi had a chance in the box but Gamid Agalarov’s chance went over the bar, while three minutes later Assayag once again left the ball off for Hen but his long distance attempt flew over the goal. Anzhi continued to look for the equalizer as Itzhak was up to the task to make a nice save off of Magomedov.
The match continued in a back and forth manner and in the 70’ Guerrero left the ball for Berami but his 18’ meter shot was saved by the Anzhi keeper while 6 minutes later Mufleh Shalata raced down the pitch, crossed the ball from the left to Berami but his chance couldn’t find the target.
The visitor’s almost drew even in the 86’ but Agalarov’s chance from 6 meters out hit the post. In the 90’ a Maccabi fast break ended in Guerrero’s second goal of the match when he received the ball from Tal Yagudaev and found the back of the goal from 17 meters, 2:0 Maccabi. However, the striker didn’t stop there as the Panamanian marksman took a Shalata pass to give the Under-19 squad a 3:0 win and a ticket to the next round of the competition.
