Maccabi Haifa U19 3–2 Hapoel Petah Tikva Nahum Stelmah U19
Israel Youth League | 8 May 2026

Match Overview

Maccabi Haifa U19 secured a crucial home victory over Hapoel Petah Tikva Nahum Stelmah U19 at the club’s training complex, winning 3–2 in a fiercely contested Israel Youth League encounter. The Greens overturned an early deficit with a dominant second‑half display to keep their championship challenge on track.

Key Moments

• 11' – Hapoel Petah Tikva stunned the home crowd with a quick counter‑attack. Winger Omri Levy sprinted clear and slotted past the Haifa goalkeeper.
• 26' – Maccabi Haifa equalised through a superb free‑kick from captain Eyal Cohen, bending the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
• 44' – The visitors regained the lead just before half‑time: striker Shai Ben David headed home from a corner, making it 2–1.
• 55' – A moment of individual brilliance from Haifa’s Noam Mizrahi levelled the score. The midfielder picked up the ball 30 yards out and unleashed a powerful drive that flew into the net.
• 73' – The winning goal arrived when substitute Daniel Peretz latched onto a through ball and finished calmly, giving Haifa a 3–2 lead they held until the final whistle.

Tactical Story

Maccabi Haifa struggled in the first half against Petah Tikva’s effective counter‑pressing and direct play. The visitors frequently bypassed midfield with long balls, catching Haifa’s high defensive line off guard. In the second half, Haifa coach Aviv Ben Shimon switched to a more compact 4‑1‑4‑1, winning the midfield battle and allowing full‑backs to push higher. The adjustment paid off with two goals in 18 minutes.

Standout Players

• Noam Mizrahi (Maccabi Haifa) – Scored a brilliant equaliser and controlled the tempo after the break. His passing accuracy reached 91%.
• Eyal Cohen (Maccabi Haifa) – The captain led by example, not only with his free‑kick goal but also with crucial defensive interceptions.
• Shai Ben David (Hapoel Petah Tikva) – A constant aerial threat, he scored one and won six duels in the box.

Season Impact

Maccabi Haifa U19 remain in the top three of the Israel Youth League, now just one point behind leaders Beitar Jerusalem U19 with four games left. Hapoel Petah Tikva Nahum Stelmah dropped to seventh, five points outside the championship play‑off places, leaving their promotion hopes in serious doubt.