Maccabi Tel Aviv began the U19 International Winter Tournament on the right foot at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom. Guy Tzarfati’s side defeated Beitar Jerusalem 2:1 in the competition’s first game over the next three days.

After a goalless first half, Beitar grabbed the lead in the opening minute of the second half when they took advantage of a turnover in the midfield to beat Daniel Peretz. Tzarfati made some wholesale changes on the pitch inserting Eduardo Guerrero and Bar Cohen as the former scored in the 42’ to draw Maccabi even at 1:1. Just four minutes later Eden Kartzev found the back of the goal from 24 meters to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:1 advantage.

Beitar was handed a penalty in the last minute of the match but Roie Fadida’s spot kick missed the mark as Tzarfati’s squad recorded the win. On Friday Maccabi will face Hapoel Beer Sheva (11:00) and Maccabi Haifa (13:30).