League

GAIA ST
Spectators: 7730 (Terracing: 5799, Seating: 1777, VIP seats: 154) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Robbie del Monte started the match with the kick off. After 5 played minutes GAIA got a freekick which was hit by Ardon Shinhav. Momo Nesher fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Reuven Aronson having to interfere. After a rather tough play, SC Balfouriyya's Momo Nesher got a free kick in the 15th minute. A hard shot 21 in the game by Igal Rabe from a close distance when the talented Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger managed to make a qualified save. SC Balfouriyya's players were relieved. Robbie del Monte blasted a shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger having to make a save. A hard shot 28 in the game by Robbie del Monte from a close distance when the talented Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger managed to make a qualified save. SC Balfouriyya's players were relieved. Robbie del Monte in the 30thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Robbie del Monte in the 34th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger saved SC Balfouriyya from getting behind. Robbie del Monte's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 35thth minute, Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Uziel Abramsky's late challenge caught a GAIA's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Uziel Abramsky helped the player get up and apologised. Jehonathan Garfield sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Robbie del Monte in the 46th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger saved SC Balfouriyya from getting behind. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Uziel Abramsky stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Robbie del Monte, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of GAIA booed when SC Balfouriyya was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 53 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elior Finkelstein didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 76th minute Jedaiah Gabor shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When the match had gone on for 79 minutes, Robbie del Monte put it in 1-0 from a short distance just to the right of Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger. Zeide Ofer's late challenge caught a SC Balfouriyya's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Zeide Ofer helped the player get up and apologised. Zeide Ofer hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Elior Finkelstein charged in rather forcefully in the 85th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Elior Finkelstein the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 85 played minutes SC Balfouriyya got a freekick which was hit by Elior Finkelstein. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Robbie del Monte in the 90th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Tzedkiyahu Goldfinger prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After a rather tough play, GAIA's Ardon Shinhav got a free kick in the 93rd minute. If Uziel Abramsky had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. GAIA fully deserved thier win.