Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv faced Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 14 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blu entered the match in second place with just goal differential separating them from the top spot.
Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Tamir Glezer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Nadav Nidam, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen
First Half
In the 10’ Hen sent the ball to Shahar but his shot was blocked by the defenders and sent out for a corner. A minute later Maccabi took the lead when Cohen put the ball in the box to Tamir Glezer and put it behind the keeper for a 1:0 lead.
Haifa had their first opportunity in the 14’ off a Maor Levi free kick that went to Aboubacar Bari but his header went over the bar. Shalata then had a free kick for Maccabi but his chance went off a defender and out for a corner. Cohen sent a terrific ball to Shalata in the 20’ but his shot missed the target and five minutes later Nidam found Hen but the keeper parried the ball away to safety.
The Greens had a dangerous chance in the 28’ when Muhamed Ghadir took the ball at the top of the box but Itzhak made the alert stop with his fingertips and six minutes later Hen’s attempt was knocked away by the Haifa defense as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.
Second Half
Haifa evened the contest up early in the second half when Guy Dahan took a through all and beat Izhak, 1:1. In the 55’ Nidam tries his luck from long distance but his attempt went over the bar while five minutes later Cohen’s chance was taken care of by the keeper.
In the 67’ Haifa’s Ghadir’s surprise shot from outside the box hit the bar and in the 72’ Mahluf sent a ball to Ram but his attempt went out. Just before the final whistle Guerrero almost found the winner but the keeper made the stop and the side’s split the points.
