Ashdod MS U19 5-1 Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon U19: Hosts Run Riot in Israel Youth League Thriller

Ashdod, 16 May 2026 – Ashdod MS U19 delivered a statement performance at home on Saturday, demolishing Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon U19 5-1 in the Israel Youth League. The emphatic victory keeps Ashdod firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish and showcased the attacking firepower that has made them one of the most entertaining sides in the division this season.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, Ashdod pressed high and suffocated the visitors’ buildup. The home side’s energetic midfield won almost every second ball, and it took just 12 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. Striker Yonatan Cohen latched onto a through ball from captain Itay Ben-David and slotted coolly past the goalkeeper.

Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon struggled to find their rhythm and fell further behind in the 24th minute. A corner kick was only partially cleared, and central defender Ori Alon smashed a half-volley into the bottom corner. The visitors pulled one back just before the half-hour mark through a well-worked counter-attack, winger Shalev Avraham finishing from a tight angle.

Second-Half Domination

Any hopes of a comeback were crushed immediately after the interval. Ashdod came out with renewed intensity and scored three unanswered goals in the space of 20 minutes. Yonatan Cohen completed his hat-trick with two clinical finishes in the 51st and 63rd minutes, the latter a powerful drive from the edge of the box. Substitute Noam Levi added a fifth in the 78th minute, rounding the goalkeeper after a swift break.

Key Performances

• Yonatan Cohen (Ashdod MS U19): A perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot, and a header – that underlined his status as one of the league’s most prolific marksmen.
• Itay Ben-David (Ashdod MS U19): The midfield engine room, contributing two assists and dictating the tempo throughout.
• Shalev Avraham (Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon U19): A bright spark in an otherwise disappointing team display, scoring the consolation goal with intelligent movement.

League Context

The victory lifts Ashdod MS U19 to fourth place in the Israel Youth League standings, just two points behind third-placed Maccabi Tel Aviv U19 with three matches remaining. For Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon U19, the heavy defeat leaves them anchored in the bottom half, now seven points clear of the relegation zone but with work still to do.

Ashdod’s attacking cohesion has been a hallmark of their season – they have now scored 48 goals in 22 matches, the third-highest tally in the division. Their ability to break down compact defences, combined with relentless pressing, makes them a dangerous opponent in any fixture.