The Under-19 side met Ashdod on Matchday 13 of the Israel Youth Premier League as the Yellow & Blue began the day in 2nd place just 3-points off the top of the table.
Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI featured keeper Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Tamir Glezer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Nadav Nidam, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.
First Half
Maccabi had the first chance of the contest in the 11’ when Shahar took a shot from 20 meter but the keeper caught the ball. Four minutes later Guerrero found Hen on the left side but again keeper Raz Zaguri was up to the task to make the stop. The Yellow & Blue finally found the opener in the 18’ when Guerrero sent a cross into the middle of the box to Cohen who put the ball into the back of the goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead.
In the 35’ Cohen almost found his second goal of the match, but his attempt went over goal and four minutes later hen sent a ball towards Guerrero but his chance just skipped by the post. Just before the halftime whistle Shahar tried his luck from 25 meters but his opportunity went out as the Yellow & Blue took the slim advantage into the break.
Second Half
The second half began with Maccabi again pressing for a second marker when Guerrero sent a cross to Hen but his header in the box was saved, while Shahar got to the rebound first but his chance went out. In the 55’ Omri Ram’s corner found Lugassi but his header missed the target and a minute later Cohen’s chance went over the goal.
In the 57’ Ashdod had their first opportunity of the match when a through ball to Yoni Sisai tried to put the ball over Itzhak but was unable to do so, while a minute later Ram tried the same for Maccabi but came up empty. Yagudaev’s 74’ chance hit the outside of the net and then Ashdod almost drew even thanks to a great through ball but Itzhak came up big to make the save.
However, in the 84’ Ashdod found the equalizer when Mohamed Canaan scored to draw even at 1:1. But Maccabi didn’t hang their heads and put home the winner in the 89’ when Guerrero headed the ball to Gil Ben Shalosh who turned his defender and put the ball behind Zaguri for a 2:1 Yellow & Blue victory.
