Olim League review
The latest round of Olim League action saw a Jerusalem derby and thrilling win for England FC…
Jerusalem 4 Real Jerusalem 0
Following the disappointment of losing last week’s cup final, Jerusalem got back to winning ways, with an imperious display against neighbours Real Jerusalem.
Real Jerusalem started the fixture in 2nd spot, and were near full strength, albeit missing the influential Jacky Duek to a knee injury, knowing that victory would guarantee them the runners up spot in their maiden season in the league.
Jerusalem were missing a few key players with injuries, and with no subs, struggled to name 11 fit players. However, due to the tightness of the league this season, and with games in hand due to another strong cup run, Jerusalem knew that a win over the league’s highest scorers, would propel them up the league, in their own quest for a top two finish.
Jerusalem slowly got on top of the game, and the break through came in the 25th minute, when Akiva Zneimer was put through and from the edge of the area executed an expert lob over Francisco Salgado in the Real goal for a deserved lead.
Real almost hit straight back only for their effort to be denied by one of the easiest offside decisions. A minute later, they were kept out by a great double save from Daniel Boerstra in the Jerusalem goal.
That served as a wake up call, and in the 28th minute, Daniel Cohen was released and made no mistake, slotting the ball into the left hand corner with a great finish from just outside the area. 2-0. Jerusalem had a couple of good efforts as they finished the half the stronger.
The second half started in the same vein the first ended. Jerusalem all but ended the game as a contest, when a great team move released Daniel Cohen down the left, and he selflessly cut the ball back to Zneimer to pass the ball into the back of the net, for his 2nd and Jerusalem’s third of the night.
Zneimer had a few chances to complete his hat-trick, only to be denied by the goalkeeper. He came closest in the 68th minute, only to be denied by the post.
In what was becoming exhibition football, Jerusalem made it four, when Amit Dinowitz’s clever pass, put Gav Cohen through, and after skiping past the defender, somehow squeezed the ball into the net from a tight angle, with a little over 15 minutes left to play.
Lollu Hibbert was forced off with a little over 10 minutes to go, and despite not having any substitutes, it was the 10-man Jerusalem who looked more likely to add to the score, rather than Real, who had the man advantage. The 4-0 final result, means that Real Jerusalem move down to third, and Jerusalem up to fourth.
At the final whistle, Jerusalem’s manager commended his weakened side for such a dominant performance. “This is only the second time the entire season, Real have failed to score. We knew that with a few injuries picked up last week, and other absentees, the key would be the defence. The available players picked themselves, and despite playing with only one recognised central defender, we looked very comfortable at the back, keeping their big guns quiet. Once we knew the battle against their potent strike force was won, we started turning the screw. All four goals were quality tonight, and we were good money for the win. Despite missing key personal, this was one of our best performances this season. With the teams in second and third having completed their games, a top two finish in firmly in our own hands, as we still have two games to play.”
Real Jerusalem:
Francisco Salgado, Asael Levin, Yotam Levi, Lior Arussi, Eden Sharma, Alon Rachamin, Harel Rachmani, Yotam Bezalel, Eliran Levi, Mario Gayan, Meni Duek, Nati Hasson, Oz Iamin
Jerusalem:
Daniel Boerstra, Yoel Finches, Dan Kosky, Lollu Hibbert, David Preston, Yigal Grayeff, Eli Warner, Gav Cohen, Akiva Zneimer, Amit Dinowitz, Daniel Cohen
Goals: Akiva Zneimer 25, 47; Daniel Cohen 28; Gav Cohen 74
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England FC put part of the disappointment of exiting the cup at the semi final stage, by beating Jaffa 4-2 in their final game of the season. The win meant England can possibly finish the season in second place, if other results go their way.
A fixture between these two local rivals always seems to produce an exciting game of football and, as expected, an end-to-end match resulted. England were again caught right from the kick-off, a habit that they will have to stem for next season, and Jaffa’s Nir HaCohen broke through to lob Roy Meron and give his side a lead inside two minutes.
But England began to show their class and their free-flowing football forced an equaliser just ten minutes later, Omri Hamama finally breaking his goal drought. Both sides had chances, but it was England who went into the half-time break with a 3-1 lead, after Tal Stern scored on his return to the side and new signing Liran Sinai hit a screamer from outside the box.
Jaffa still reeling from a not-given penalty decision prior to the break, got themselves back in the game early into the second half through Dan Berkley, who controversially beat the offside trap before putting it past Meron.
England’s defence held firm to deny Jaffa an equaliser and their efforts were rewarded when Hamama lobbed the Jaffa keeper for his second of the night to secure all three points.
Elsewhere, Raanana beat Ashdod 4-3
Team of the Week:
GK Daniel Boerstra (Jerusalem)
D Darmon Igal (Ashdod)
D Yoel Finches (Jerusalem)
D David Preston (Jerusalem)
D Daniel Berkeley (Jaffa)
M Liran Sinai (England)
M Akiva Zniemer (Jerusalem)
M Tal Stern (England)
M Eitan Rachmani (Raanana)
F Daniel Cohen (Jerusalem)
F Aviad Ben Meir (Raanana)
Manager of the Week:
Danny Newman (Jerusalem)
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