Olim League review week nine

Peter Emola was on target for Aviv City

The latest round of Olim League action saw a glut of goals, including a dramatic ten-goal thriller…

Raanana 2 Modiin 3
Modiin produced a fantastic performance to beat Raanana 3-2 away, which keeps them well in contention for a title challenge.

There was little to separate the two teams as the game started off at a frantic pace. Both teams has good efforts, but it was Modiin that eventually broke the deadlock, as new signing Moshe Lianido lobbed the Raanana keeper in the 20th minute.

Raanana continued their free flowing attacking football and were awarded a penalty after a Modiin defender was adjudged to handle the ball in the area. The league’s top goal scorer Aviad Ben Meir stepped up and was fortunate to score as the Modiin’s keeper got a hand to it but was unable to keep the ball out the net. Raanana continued applying pressure, once hitting the bar, but still unable to score the vital second goal.

Modiin responded five minutes before half-time as Yonatan Yourno crossed from the left and another new signing TJ was able to steer his header into the back of the net.

In the second half, Modiin come out the stronger, playing lovely one touch passes all over the pitch. Their style of football was rewarded as Yoni Reiner scored to take Modiin 3-1 ahead. However, Raanana were far from finished and benefited from a misplaced Modiin pass as Nathan Ben Ari pulled a goal back for them. This resulted in a nervy final ten minutes for both teams and Raanana had a chance in the last minute to draw level, but Modiin keeper Iliyah Kovalov made an outstanding save at his near post.

Modiin co-manager’s Jamie Lazarus and David Bruce were ecstatic with their teams performance. “We had a few new players tonight and they slotted in just perfectly into our system and style of play” said Bruce.

Lazarus added: ” This is a massive result for the lads. Raanana have a great team, but we showed amazing character to hold on for the victory.”

Jaffa 4 England 3
Despite both teams going through early season struggles, this year’s Tel Aviv derby didn’t fail to disappoint with Jaffa FC scoring four second half goals to overturn a 2-0 half-time deficit and win 4-3.

The game started off at a furious pace, with England testing Jaffa’s Yochanan El Charar from distance often. Jaffa struggled to match England’s intensity, and were duly punished in the 19th and 21st minute where both Josh Portnoi and Tal Stern punished lax defending on corners. Despite the half-time score, Jaffa were confident the game could be turned. “We knew if we could get a quick goal,” assistant manager Simon Davies explained, “We’d get something out of the game.”

Within a minute of the kick off, Josh Silverberg headed in an Elias Sandler corner and momentum had switched. Jaffa continued to pressurise England, and were rewarded again in the 64th minute where Silverberg again headed in a corner, this time courtesy of Rani Madmon.

The next goal would be key, and both teams started playing the football you’d expect between the heated rivals. In the 80th minute, another Madmon corner was put in by Yaniv Ishmereni. England responded immediately with the excellent Tal Stern scoring off an El Charar mishandle to knot the scores at 3-3. Jaffa’s response was almost as quick as Daniel Berkeley’s long-range shot found the bottom corner. The last few minutes were chaotic but with England failing to find the equaliser, Jaffa claimed three important points in their hope to remain in the running for top-four spot.

Jerusalem 5 Aviv City 5
Minute-by-minute account:

1: Aviv City kick off and the ball goes back to Rob Bradman who scuffs the clearance and Jerusalem have the first corner.

2: Goodman cross is palmed away by Rob Bradman, encouraging start from Jerusalem

3: Solo goes on a great run down the right hand side and is very unlucky not to have won a penalty as he gets clipped inside the box whilst turning.

4: Goal! David Raeber makes an absolute howler as he drops a soft cross from Peter Emola into his own net. Terrible goalkeeping

6: Goal! Jerusalem are straight back in it as Moishe Lewis beats Rob Bradman with a sweet strike from just outside the box 1-1

8: Schneider wins a corner for Aviv down the left. This game is really end to end action at the moment.

10: Michael loses the ball just outside his own area and Moishe Lewis feeds Dan Cohen inside of the box but Cohen can’t beat Bradman.

12: a long goal kick from David Raeber is flicked on by Moishe Lewis again to Dan Cohen but he hasn’t got his shooting boots on today and it goes out for a goal kick

13: Amit Dinowitz is denied by the post. Some lovely footwork from the youngster sees him pull off a low drive that beats Bradman but somehow doesn’t go in

14: Yoel Finches is down on the ground at the half way line. The veteran full back appeared to take a knock in a 50-50, he looks winded but should be ok

16: Gusi Kelner earns his team a free kick on the edge of the Jerusalem area as he takes on a high ball perfectly with his chest forcing Kosky to commit a foul from behind.

17: Goal! Aviv take the lead again as a stunning Peter Emola free-kick goes over the wall and leaves the keeper in no mans land. 2-1 to Aviv. Mind you Raeber should have at least dived for that one.

18: Aviv City causing all sorts of problems for Jerusalem at the moment with Peter Emola pulling the strings.

19: And now Jerusalem have a free kick just outside Aviv’s area, Akiva dinks a beautiful ball over that falls for Dan Cohen who is adjudged offside. Awful decision by the ref.

20: Dan Cohen again involved in the action as he trips over Peter Emola on the half way line. Clearly a foul and Peter is showing he is not happy.

22: Gav Kreiger gives the ball away in a dangerous area to Suma who wins a corner. Corner is met by Uri’s head but it goes over

25: The game is finally calming down as the ball goes out of play and both teams take a much needed breather.

27: First change of the night as Moses is introduced for Aviv City

28: Dan Goodman shows electric pace down the left as he races the entire length of the field. It takes 3 Aviv players to see the ball out for a goal kick.

30: Jerusalem are trying to claw their way back into the game but have to deal with Aviv counter attack as Peter Emola puts Gusi Kelner through on goal. The ball goes out but there has been a big collision between Kelner and David Raeber and it looks like David Raeber and Gav Krieger are both down and out of this game as Jerusalem are forced into a double substitution.

33: David Preston has gone between the posts for Jerusalem and Yigal Grayeff slots in at right back. Zac Lewis comes on for Gav Krieger as Jerusalem reshape

35: Gusi Kelner is again played in behind the Jerusalem defence but his first touch is too poor.

37: Moishe Lewis wins a clever free kick down the left. FreeKick is looped over everyone and somehow Kosky has a free shot but he had to stretch for it and couldn’t find the target. That could have been the eqauliser

38: Lollu Hibbert comes on as a makeshift center back for Jerusalem

40: Akiva blasts the ball wide. He is clearly frustrated with his team mates at this point.

43: Peter tries to take on Lollu outside the box but he is dispossessed twice. Solid defending.

45: Goodman plays a shot wide on the stroke of half time.

46: Aviv City kick off and straight away go on the attack as Suma blasts the ball into the side netting.

47: A long throw in bounces over the Aviv defence and finds Gav Cohen who doesn’t manage to get his shot away

48: Brilliant save from Rob Bradman as he tips a great Moishe Lewis show over the bar. (Incidentally it appears that David Raeber is back in goal for Jerusalem.

51: Jerusalem are having a lot of possession but nothing more

53: David Raeber comes off again as David Preston gets the gloves on for the second time tonight.

56: Goal! An Aviv corner lands next to Suma 6 yards out and he blasts the ball home. 3-1 to Aviv City

58: Jerusalem are trying the long ball game but it clearly isn’t working for them.

61: Both Lollu and Moishe Lewis try taking long shots against Rob Bradman but he is not going to get beaten like that.

64: Neither team looks comfortable in possession

65: Lollu goes on a run from center back but leaves Kosky isolated. Too Risky from Lollu who luckily gets away with it

67: First card of the night is produced as Yonatan cynically takes out Akiva in the center circle.

69: Peter Emola hits the cross bar from a free kick. He is having a great game.

72: Goal! Akiva’s persistence pays off as he slots the ball past Rob Bradman. 3-2 and we have a game again.

74: Goal! Suma responds instantly for Aviv as he beats three Jerusalem players and toe pokes the ball past David Preston. Heart breaking for Jerusalem who can’t seem to catch a break tonight

75: Kosky gets a free header from a free kick in the box but he can’t direct it downwards

78: Zac Lewis is put through on goal and is taken out by Rob Bradman. Jerusalem cry penalty but the ref keeps playing.

82: Goal!!! Zac Lewis beats his marker from a corner and flicks the ball in near post. 4-3 and we are in for a thrilling eight minutes plus stoppage time.

86: Goal! Aviv look to have finally put this game to bed as Sagi Meged lobs David Preston from 40 yards. 5-3.

88: Goal! Jerusalem are not giving up the fight. A lovely move started by Zac Lewis sees a shot spilled by Rob Bradman and Moishe Lewis taps in 5-4.

89: Aviv City are counting down the seconds now as they get ready for a huge away victory.

90: Goal!!!!!! Moishe Lewis, unbelievable strike from 40 yards. 5-5. We are in for 3 minutes of extra time as Jerusalem now look for the winner.

Teams:
Jerusalem: David Raeber,David Preston, Gav Krieger, Dan Kosky, Yoel Finches Gav Cohen, Akiva Zniemer, Daniel Goodman, Dan Cohen, Moishe Lewis, Amit Dinowitz. Subs: Yigael Grayeff, Lollu Hibbert, Zac Lewis

Aviv City: Rob Bradman, Michael, Ari, Solo, Gaston, Soma, Yonatan, Sagi, Uri, Gusi, Peter, Subs: Moses

TEAM-OF-THE-WEEK:

GOALKEEPER
Iliyah Kovalov (Modiin)

DEFENDER
Sam Sank (England)
Nadav Shema (Modiin)
Yaniv Ishmerim (Jaffa)
Elias Sandler (Jaffa)

MIDFIELD
Tal Stern (England)
Suma (Aviv)
Yoni Reiner (Modiin)
Josh Silverberg (Jaffa)

ATTACK
Peter Emolla (Aviv)
Moishe Lewis (Jerusalem)

MEN-OF-THE-WEEK
David Bruce & Jamie Lazarus (Modiin)

TABLE
FIXTURES & RESULTS