The Under-19 faced Beitar Jerusalem on Matchday 15 of the Israel Youth Premier League which marked the last game in the first round. Maccabi “Shachar” entered the contest in second place two points off the top of the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva while Beitar began the day in 9th, winless in their last 7 matches.
Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Alon Shtrozberg, Tamir Glezer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Nadav Nidam, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen and Eyal Hen.
First Half
Abiel Zargari had the first chance of the match for Beitar but his shot went over the bar while in the 9’ Jerusalem’s Eden Azuri had a one on one attempt on Itzhak, but the keeper parried the ball away. 3 minutes later Shalata had Maccabi’s opening opportunity but his chance in the box went off a defender and in the 16’ Lugassi sent Hen the ball on the left side who passed it to Guerrero but his attempt went out.
In the 21’ the Yellow & Blue almost took the lead when Mahluf sent a cross in the box but Shalata’s header was blocked by Beitar keeper Roie Shoshan while Nidam’s rebound attempt went over the bar. 9 minutes later Hen’s chance at the top of the box was saved again by Shoshan. In the 31’ Guerrero’s shot went out and Bar Cohen’s cross to the aforementioned Guerrero was headed into the keeper’s hands as the sides went onto the break goalless.
Second Half
Beitar was given a penalty kick in the 62’ when Hen pulled a player down in the box which Jerusalem converted via Azuri for a 1:0 lead. Six minutes later Glezer tried his luck from long distance but his shot went out and a minute later substitute Tal Yagudaev’s chance also missed the target. In the 77’ Omer Itzhaki sent Guerrero a ball but Shoshan again made the save.
In the 79’ Yagudaev’s header off a free kick hit the bar and Beitar went downfield and doubled their lead as Roie Fadida sent the ball to Uziel Predo who beat Itzhak from in close, 2:0 Jerusalem. Shahar’s 87’ chance just missed the goal and two minutes later Beitar added a third goal when Predo put home the ball in the box for a 3:0 lead. Immediately after the goal Itzhaki was given a red card for harsh words to the referee as the match came to a disappointing end.
