U18 League

Mesillot Stadium
Spectators: 152 (Terracing: 114, Seating: 35, VIP seats: 3) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Mati Adamski took the kick off in the first half of the match. 3 minutes into the match, Cosimo Brunelli had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Josh Ben-Ari. Maccabi Netanya's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cosimo Brunelli was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 7thth minute of the game Cosimo Brunelli who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Maccabi Netanya's Josh Ben-Ari was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Fulvio Alfani sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Black Devil Napoli getting a freekick after 10 minutes play. Anthony Di Luca hit a great ball. A hard shot by Raz Factor from long distance, 11 minutes into the match, got Antonio Baia's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. When Raz Factor fell near the penalty area in the 12th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Maccabi Netanya's protests and gave Raz Factor a yellow card for diving instead. When Fulvio Alfani came up free with the goalie in the 13th minute, the Black Devil Napoli fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Fulvio Alfani couldn't finish the play. When Black Devil Napoli's Cosimo Brunelli in the 15th minute got a chance for a shot 15th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Maccabi Netanya's goalie prevented a goal. After 15 minutes of play Maccabi Netanya's Raz Factor was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. After a rather tough play, Maccabi Netanya's Raz Factor got a free kick in the 16th minute. Fulvio Alfani received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Josh Ben-Ari tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Josh Ben-Ari took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cosimo Brunelli, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 22 played minutes Black Devil Napoli got a freekick which was hit by Fabiano Pio. 23 minutes into the match, Maccabi Netanya's goal looked a bit too open when Cosimo Brunelli came free, but Josh Ben-Ari reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Maccabi Netanya's Barel Gavrilov got a free kick in the 24th minute. In the 27th minute Maccabi Netanya were awarded a corner. Amitsur Rafner went to the cornerflag to take it. The corner ended in Amitsur Rafner almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but Black Devil Napoli's Antonio Baia did a great save. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cosimo Brunelli in the 30th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Josh Ben-Ari prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Fulvio Alfani recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 33rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fulvio Alfani in the 38th minute of play forced Maccabi Netanya's goalkeeper Josh Ben-Ari to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cosimo Brunelli in the 40th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Josh Ben-Ari prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 46 minutes into the match, Maccabi Netanya's goal looked a bit too open when Fulvio Alfani came free, but Josh Ben-Ari reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After the first half Black Devil Napoli were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Cosimo Brunelli made a kick off. If Mati Adamski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With his leg Josh Ben-Ari managed to avoid a goal in the 53rdth minute, when Black Devil Napoli's Cosimo Brunelli fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The supporters of Black Devil Napoli booed when Maccabi Netanya was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Barel Gavrilov didn't get a good kick on the ball. Fabiano Pio's late challenge caught a Maccabi Netanya's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Fabiano Pio helped the player get up and apologised. Fabiano Pio hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. If Mati Adamski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Fulvio Alfani fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Josh Ben-Ari having to interfere. Josh Ben-Ari stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Cosimo Brunelli's shot from short distance in the 70th minute. 73 minutes had been played when some careless play by Black Devil Napoli's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Amitsur Rafner was slow to take the kick. During this time Maccabi Netanya's players had a chance to rest. Maccabi Netanya's Amitsur Rafner was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Antonio Baia in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The referee felt a red card was in order, 74 minutes into the game, when Adir Avitahl put in a rough tackle. After 74 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Maccabi Netanya! In the 77th minute there was a penalty for Black Devil Napoli. Ermanno Natalucci stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Josh Ben-Ari. 0-3. After a defensive mix-up in Maccabi Netanya's zone, Fulvio Alfani stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Josh Ben-Ari came out of the goal and Fulvio Alfani tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Josh Ben-Ari made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cosimo Brunelli in the 87th minute. Fulvio Alfani hit a great freekick 92 minutes into the match. Fulvio Alfani fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Josh Ben-Ari having to interfere. Cosimo Brunelli who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 98thth minute tested the skills of Josh Ben-Ari when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Black Devil Napoli's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.