League Play-Off

Zafririm
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Obi Tabiv kicked off to start the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 2nd minute, Vlad Datz managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sanddalah's supporters rose to their feet, but Vlad Datz was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Shuta Modan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Shuta Modan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Edi Zafir's shot from short distance in the 7th minute. Niso Barak didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 10th minute, which inside left pole to 1-0. Edi Zafir recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 13th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Vlad Datz in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Shuta Modan prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 15 minutes into the match, Edi Zafir notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of SC Zafririm's Shuta Modan. Shuta Modan was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 19th minute, Vlad Datz got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Shuta Modan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Edi Zafir in the 21st minute of the match. After 24 minutes, Ricky Ratzon mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the SC Zafririm and the Sanddalah players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 26th minute there was a penalty for Sanddalah. Avivi Abuxis stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Shuta Modan. 1-2. When Ricky Ratzon was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 37 minutes had been played. In the 37th minute, one of SC Zafririm:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for SC Zafririm. 1-3 came in the 41st minute when Avivi Abuxis all by himself managed to get straight through the defense and place the ball into the net to the right of Shuta Modan. Vlad Datz struck a weak shot in the 44th minute. Shuta Modan didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Sanddalah. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 1-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Edi Zafir to make the kick off. 55 minutes into the game, Niso Butbika was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sanddalah's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SC Zafririm the free kick. In the 55th minute, Niso Butbika hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Shuta Modan stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Edi Zafir's shot from short distance in the 57th minute. Edi Zafir blasted a shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Shuta Modan having to make a save. Vlad Datz fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Shuta Modan having to interfere. Niso Barak showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Sultan Mendelssohn in the 76th minute of the match. Sultan Mendelssohn received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Niso Barak tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Yossi Lokali fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Zafririm's protests and gave Yossi Lokali a yellow card for diving instead. In the 81st minute, Yossi Lokali hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Shuta Modan acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 82nd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Avivi Abuxis. With an all-out effort, Sanddalah's Shuta Modan threw himself towards the right post 93 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Edi Zafir, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Yossi Lokali got his second yellow card in the match during the 94th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. Yossi Lokali kicked well hit freekick during the 95th minute of the match. Vlad Datz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Shuta Modan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Sanddalah walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.