Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic exploited the absence of the players who are on international duty to let his squad get some valuable playing time against Hapoel Ramat Gan who are coached by former Maccabi U19’s coach Michael Zandberg.
Maccabi took the lead early in the 4th minute as Elad Madmon headed an Itamar Noy free kick to beat Ramat Gan’s goalkeeper Itamar Israeli from close range.
In the 26th minute, Maccabi doubled their lead after Avishay Cohen, playing at left-back, burst into the box and cut the ball back for Yonas Malede who clinically finished with one touch.
Three minutes after the half-hour mark Maccabi increased their lead to 3–0. Cohen, was instrumental once again as he won the ball deep inside Ramat Gan’s half before slipping it to Madmon who found the bottom far corner for his second of the match.
In the 40th minute, Maccabi’s new signing Kervin Andrade scored a stunning goal, firing from 30 meters straight into the top corner.
The visitors cut the deficit in the 55th minute, when Adar Retner slotted home from close range past Yoav Gerafi. Eight minutes later, Maccabi added a fifth as Maccabi’s U19 midfielder Yoav Junio volleyed a Ben Lederman cross with a clinical finish of his own.
Ramat Gan scored their second in the 70th minute, when Omer Senior struck from the middle of the box into the bottom right corner to seal the score at 5-2.
Maccabi: Roi Mishpati (Yoav Gerafi 46), Tyrese Asante, Ali Camara, Heitor (Itay Ben Hemo 46), Avishay Cohen, Itamar Noy, Ben Lederman, Yoav Juino, Kervin Andrade (Rani Rival 65), Yonas Malede, Elad Madmon (Yahli Danor 65).
