SPORTS DIRECT OLIM LEAGUE
JERUSALEM 5 INTER TEL AVIV 1
Jerusalem kept alive their title hopes with a convincing 5-1 victory over Inter Tel Aviv.
Both sides went into this game in plenty of form, with virtually identical records, both being unbeaten since the opening weekend of the season back in September.
With the teams having a game in hand and sitting six points behind leaders Ra'anana, each new that anything but a win would see them lose pace on the league's pacesetters, who were in the process of picking up a further three points in a demolition job of basement boys Rainball Tel Aviv.
Inter made the trip to Jerusalem missing a few key personnel, whilst the hosts also missing a few first teamers, were forced into a starting 11, as their two available subs turned up half an hour after kick-off.
Moishe Lewis fired Jerusalem ahead with the first attack from a throw-in, the game barely 5 minutes old.
Four minutes later and it should have been two. A defensive mix-up allowed Daniel Cohen to go through, only to be impeded in the area. The referee had no choice but to point to the spot. With Jerusalem's regular penalty-takers off the pitch, keeper Daniel Boerstra stepped up, only to see his tamely hit shot easily saved by the keeper.
The missed penalty seemed to knock Jerusalem out of their stride, as Inter started edging the play, though failing to show any real threat on goal. Both sides had one solitary effort each in the next 25 minutes, before a five-minute spell saw Jerusalem double their lead after a great cross by Gav Cohen found his twin brother Daniel Cohen who headed past the outstretched hand of the keeper.
With a 2-0 advantage, Jerusalem were still not at their best, but they stepped up a gear, with two quickfire goals effectively ending the contest. First Eyal Toledo's great through ball found Cohen to slide the ball past the onrushing keeper, and then within a minute later, Zack Lewis put Gav Cohen through to make it 4-0.
To their credit, Inter's heads did not drop, and the put some nice moves together in a bid to try and get back into the game. With a little over a quarter of an hour to go, Inter pulled one back with the goal of the game. A great angled through ball found Emanuel Scholtz who showed composure to score his fourth in three games.
Any hopes of a mini-revival were soon put to bed as Jerusalem went on the attack. Mordy Weiler fired wide, and then a few minutes later, Zack Lewis was given the little space that he needs to make it 5-1 with a neat finish.
Towards the end, a great run from defence by Gav Krieger saw him have a crack from the edge of the area, and the keeper did well to tip the tight angled shot over the bar.
Jerusalem's joint manager Danny Newman said: "It wasn't the greatest performance from us, to be honest. But it says a lot about our confidence, that we were able to take an ultimately comfortable three points from a top quality opposition.
"We looked a little flat at times, but were fortunate to meet Inter on what was an off-day for them too. They showed glimpses of why they had gone almost three months undefeated, and I am sure they will be a force in this league for the next few years.
"Fortunately all our strikers were a little more clinical than last week, and our defence looked rock solid, with Dan Kosky back from overseas, and Gav Krieger having an outstanding game too.
"Next week poses yet another hard test against a very strong Jaffa side, who always give us a tough game. Judging from their last few results at home, they will be very confident of taking at least a point off us, if not more."
Jerusalem: Daniel Boerstra, Solomon Emeke Eza, Dan Kosky, Gavriel Krieger, David Preston, Eyal Toledo, Gav Cohen, Yehuda Korman, Daniel Cohen, Lollu Hibbert, Moishe Lewis. Subs: Mordy Weiler, Zack Lewis.
Goals: Moishe Lewis (5), Daniel Cohen (35, 53), Gav Cohen (54), Zack Lewis (80)
Inter: Sam Friedmann, Omri Elani, Sam Sank, Ofir Djerbi, Amir Szuster, Emanuel Scholtz, Beni Polnauer, Ariel Benzaquen, James Fattal, Dani Markovitz, Ronny Cohen, Robertinho Lima, Gav Hill
Goal: Emanuel Scholtz (73)
Yellow card: Sam Friedmann
