OLIM LEAGUE
JAFFA FC 4 ENGLAND 3

Four second-half goals helped Jaffa FC overturn a 2-0 defeat to beat former champions England FC.

Despite both teams going through early season struggles, this year’s Tel Aviv derby didn’t fail to disappoint with Jaffa FC producing a stirring comeback.

The game started off at a furious pace, with England testing Jaffa keeper Yochanan El Charar from distance often. Jaffa struggled to match England’s intensity, and were duly punished in the 19th and 21st minute where both Josh Portnoi and Tal Stern punished lax defending on corners.

Despite the half time score, Jaffa were confident the game could be turned. "We knew if we could get a quick goal,” assistant manager Simon Davies explained: "We'd get something out of the game."

Within a minute of the kick off, Josh Silverberg headed in an Elias Sandler corner and momentum had switched. Jaffa continued to pressurise England, and were rewarded again in the 64th minute where Silverberg again headed in a corner, this time courtesy of Rani Madmon.

The next goal would be key, and both teams started playing the football you’d expect between the fierce rivals.
In the 80th minute, another Madmon corner was put in by Yaniv Ishmereni.

England responded immediately with the excellent Tal Stern converting after El Charar had parried a shot to level the scores at 3-3.

Jaffa’s response was almost as quick as Daniel Berkeley’s long-range shot found the bottom corner.

The last few minutes were chaotic but with England failing to find the equaliser, as Jaffa claimed three important points in their hope to remain in the running for top four spot.