Hakoah boys battle on

MACCABI Hakoah’s under-18 boys team has advanced to the semifinals of the Football NSW Champion of Champions competition, following a 3-2 win over Parramatta City.

Hakoah qualified for the event after losing just one game all season on its way to the league title and premiership in the Eastern Suburbs Football Association.

Under the guidance of guest coach John Foxman, the Jewish side took on the Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association champions in the quarterfinals, a team that demolished Northern Suburbs’ Mount Colah 6-1 in the previous round.

But it was Maccabi who was able to handle the warm conditions better than its quality opposition, though the win didn’t come without a scare.

Striker James Puterflam had an early chance to find the net, but his shot was hit away by the hand of a Parramatta defender.

The referee awarded a penalty to Hakoah and sent off the offending player, which allowed Justin Malek to step up to the spot and give his side the lead.

Maccabi took advantage of having an extra player, gaining control of possession and setting up further clear-cut chances.

Puterflam was then able to score, when he linked well with midfielder Wes Hamburger to set up a 2-0 score-line at the interval.

Hakoah came out with all the momentum in the second half and immediately put the pressure on its opposition, thanks to the midfield dominance of Ilan Kessler, Toby Shabtay, Brad Karpin and Hamburger.

With all the play in Maccabi’s forward half, Kessler was able to convert from a goalmouth scramble to extend the side’s lead to 3-0.

However, with 15 minutes to play goalkeeper Jared Ellison was finally beaten, before Parramatta set up a thrilling finish after adding another with just minutes to go.

Maccabi was able to hold on in the dying stages for the victory and now advance to the next round of the tournament, which will take place on Sunday, October 13.

AJN STAFF

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