A product of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Academy, Weinberg has featured prominently over the past two seasons for Maccabi Tel Aviv ‘Shachar’ U19s, making 47 appearances in all competitions.

Afte signing his contract, Weinberg said: I am happy and excited to sign for my boyhood club, and I promise to give my all in every training session and match in order to continue my development and contribute to the success of the club.”

At international level, Weinberg is a member of Israel’s Under-19 national team, where he made two appearances, and has also made five appearances with Israel’s U17’s and U16’s.

Preview

Maccabi arrived at Teddy stadium for the MD17 WINNER League match away to Hapoel Jerusalem aiming to return to winning ways and end their four-match winless run in. Three successive draws on the back of a defeat to Hapoel Be’ersheva left Maccabi with 30 points in the table, eight adrift of the leaders.

Maccabi’s Head Coach Zarko Lazetic welcomed Tyrese Asante back from suspension as the Dutch defender returned to the right side of defense. Raz Shlomo and Itay Ben Hemo lined up as the two central defenders with Roy Revivo completing the defensive line in front of goalkeeper Ofek Melika. Issouf Sissokho and Ido Shahar were named by Lazetic in the Maccabi’s engine room with Kervin Andrade at the top of the midfield trio. Helio Varela and Osher Davida were assigned to the flanks with Elad Madmon spearheading the attack aiming to add to his two league goals and four in all competitions.

Lazetic, who was missing Dor Peretz and Kristijan Belic through injury, named as his substitutes goalkeeper Roi Mishpati, Heitor dos Santos, Sagiv Jehezkel, Yonas Malede, Noam Ben Harush, Ben Lederman, Itamar Noy, Saied Abu Garchi and Ilay Ben Simon.

First Half

Around 5000 Maccabi fans travelled to Jerusalem and enjoyed the cold weather conditions and wintery sun at Teddy stadium. In the 2nd minute Kervin Andrade had a shot on goal from outside the box and as the sun was in the face of goalkeeper Nadav Zamir the ball bounced infront of him and struck his face. Elad Madmon pounced on the rebound and from close range swept in the opener for his third goal of the season.

Several minutes later referee Ohad Asulin penalised Zamir for holding the ball too long and awarded Maccabi a corner. From the resulting corner Roy Revivo dropped to the ground and as the ball was out of play, Asulin was calledby the VAR to the screen. Asulin awarded a penalty before Ido Shahar stepped up and successfully converted the spot kick to double Maccabi’s lead. Maccabi kept dominating but in the 19th minute the hosts cut the deficit as Ibeh Ransom picked a loose ball deep inside Maccabi’s half and unleashed a powerful drive which Ofek Melika couldnt keep out. Helio Varela came close to restore Maccabi’s two-goal lead as he cut inside from the left and fired a low drive which Zamir punched away.

In the 26th minute Ofek Nadir floated a shot from the corner of the area which almost caught Melika by surprise as it sailed wide of the target. A minute after the half hour mark Osher Davida sent a left foot curler that beat Zamir but struck the base of the post. In the 38th minute Asulin was called to the screen once again for a suspected handball and inside Maccabi’s area. Another penalty was awarded this time for Hapoel Jerusalem which was taken by their captain Awaka Ashta. But Melika dived to his right and saved the penalty to keep Maccabi infront.

Sissokho was lucky not to receive a second booking for a foul as Asulin decided to keep his cards in his pocket. Inside injury time Raz Shlomo had a head collision with a Jerusalem player and needed medical treatment after cutting open his eyebrow.

Second Half

Lazetic made two changes after the break as Shlomo and Sissokho were both replaced by Heitor Itamar Noy for the restart. Lazetic made another change on the hour mark as Andrade bowed out and was replaced by Saied Abu Farchi.

Maccabi continued to try and increase their lead as in the 68th minute Davida had a shot blocked before Varela tried curling and effort which narrowly missed the target. In the 71st minute Tyrese Asante scored the goal of the game as he pounced on a Madmon square ball and with the outside of his right boot unleashed a thunderbolt that rocketed into the top corner to make it 3-1.

In the 77th minute Matan Hozez was booked for a foul on Madmon but following the intervention of VAR changed the card from yellow to red. Lazetic made another substitution as Sagiv Jehezkel replaced Varela for the closing stages. Zamir tipped a Madmon free kick which was making its way under the crossbar in the 80th minute. Lazetic made his fifth and final substitution in the 88th minute as Shahar came off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Noam Ben Harush. Madmon tried desperately to score his second on the night but his injury time shot from the edge of area cleared the crossbar.

 

Sissokho didnt hide his disappointment with the draw as he said: “The feeling after the match isn’t pleasant. We gave everything on the pitch, but didn’t get the result we wanted. We’re disappointed, but there’s no time to be disappointed, we have to fight together and keep looking forward.”

On Maccabi’s recent run of four league matches without a victory, Sissokho said:
“These are very difficult moments for us. But we’re trying to work together and change this momentum. At this club, we know how important it is to win every match.”

On the return of the fans to support the team, Sissokho added:
“We’re happy the fans came today, it’s important. We tried to give everything on the pitch with good energy. I believe things will be good going forward.”