Maccabi's U14 Team South are through to the State Cup finals. The U13 Team South lose their semis

Today at the Shfayim playing field near Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-14 Team South, under the able stewardship of coaches Ori David and Aviv Rein, won their State Cup semi-final tie against Ashdod FC  2-1 and advanced to the finals where a derby awaits them against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Osher Davida scored the Under-14's first goal with an assist from Omri Ran. In the final stages of the match Ashdod succeeded in equalising but the Maccabi youngsters recovered and a great team effort ended with a strike from Eden Silam, who scored the winning goal and earned Maccabi a ticket to the final hurdle.

Disappointment on the other hand for head coach Asaf Profeta's Under-13 Team 2, who lost their semi-final State Cup tie to Hapoel Rishon Lezion by a score of 4-0. 

 

After the two Maccabi U15 teams reached the State Cup finals last week, the U12s repeated the feat by winning both of their semi-final ties

All-Maccabi youth team State Cup finals are becoming the order of the day as once again the club's two representatives in the same age category, this time the Under-12s, succeeded in winning their semi-final matches at Shfayim playing field near Tel Aviv. As occurred last week with the Under-15s, both Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oz" (Team South) and "Leibo" (Team North) emerged triumphant from their semi-final encounters to set up the second all-Maccabi youth State Cup final of the 2014/15 season.

First up were coaches Guy Shemesh and Netanel Luzon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oz", who faced their counterparts from Ashdod FC for the right to advance to the finals. It was very much a box-to-box affair, with the opposition succeeding in drawing level no less than four times and even establishing a 6-4 lead at the break. The second half saw "Oz" restore parity at 6-6 but it was in extra that Maccabi's Under-12 Team South really showed their character, scoring twice to no reply and winning the tie 8-6. "Oz"'s eight goals came courtesy of a hat-trick by Oscar Gloch, a brace by Ben Linker and individual efforts by Orel Azarzar, Mor Simantov and Ori Halevi.

In the second feature, coaches Adi Somech and Alon Peleg's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo" also faced tough opposition, in their case from the Under-12s of Hapoel Rishon Lezion. "Leibo" jumped to a 2-0 lead, but the youngsters from Rishon succeeded in wiping the advantage out by the close of the first half, which ended 2-2. In the second half however it was almost all Maccabi, as was demonstrated by the final scoreline of 7-4 in "Leibo"'s favour. Omer Senior scored a brace, while Rani Noff, Guy Noff, Omer Abuhav, Aviv Peles and Amir Arielli all scored individual goals for the winning Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo" side.

The all-Maccabi U12 State Cup final will take place on April 8th. The time and venue will be published at a later date.

 

Despite a good performance and endless scoring opportunities, head coach Ziv Arie's U19's left all three points in Beer Sheva

With twenty-one points still up for grabs in the 2014/15 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" headed south to play what was expected to be a difficult tie against their Hapoel Beer Sheva counterparts. Head coach Ziv Arie's Under-19 squad went into the match with the wind in their sails, after a 2-0 home win against Beitar Jerusalem last week, a victory that kept them three points ahead of the pack in the national U19 Premier League.

The match opened with both sides at sixes and sevens, but Maccabi managed the first clear threat on goal after twelve minutes of play when midfielder Maxim Grechkin came close but failed to score facing Beer Sheva keeper Raz Rahamim on his own. Eleven minutes later defender Saar Kalderon broke well down the line, bypassing two Beer Sheva defenders on the way, and crossed adroitly to Yonatan Cohen, but the striker's effort was also stopped by an out-stretched Rahamim. "Shachar" stepped up the pressure and on 26 minutes a good team effort by Maccabi's front line ended in a powerful shot by Grechkin, but the Beer Sheva keeper was once again at the ready. Two minutes later, against the run of play, Hapoel Beer Sheva took the lead when Amram Elkariani pounced on a defensive error just inside the Maccabi area and shot past keeper Shahar Hasson to give the home side a 1-0 advantage. "Shachar" continued to press and Grechkin nearly turned provider when his adept cross met with an onrushing Sohil Armeli, but the midfielder's close-range effort went wide.

At the break Ziv Arie made a double substitution, sending on striker Mavis Tchibota and defender Idan Yogev for Kalderon and midfielder Gabriel Kanikovski, but the second half did not meet the performance standards of the first, at either end of the pitch. Tchibota and Cohen both missed chances early on, but the former came close twelve minutes from time with an exceptional effort that once again tested the mettle of the Beer Sheva Keeper. After additional unsuccessful efforts by Cohen and midfielder Matan Hozez, striker Raz Itzhak almost drew Maccabi level in the last minute with a splendid personal effort that culminated in a powerful shot that met the woodwork. But lady luck was not on Maccabi's side and the match ended with the home side taking all three points. With second-placed Maccabi Haifa on the winning end of their Saturday encounter, Maccabi's Under-19s now find themselves leading the league on goal difference alone. But they will try once again to regain some breathing space at the top when they host Ironi Kiryat Shmona after the holiday break on April 11^th.

 

 

 

 

 

On Israel's "Good Deeds Day", team members from Maccabi's Youth Division visited Avraham Avraham

Good Deeds Day" is the annual flagship project of the organisation "Ruach Tova", who have taken upon themselves the task of developing volunteerism in Israel. For that purpose, and to promote the spirit of mutuality in Israeli society, the "Good Deeds Day" project was started in 2007 and continues up to this day. In recognition of the importance of this occasion, Maccabi Tel Aviv sent four of the club's Youth Division players – Haviv Ohayon, Chen Ozari, Daniel Peretz and Erez Ben Adi – to visit Avraham Avraham, a holocaust survivor and fervent Maccabi Tel Aviv fan whom the club have taken upon themselves to assist in recent years. In return for the many Maccabi gifts the four young goalkeepers brought with them, Avraham Avraham engaged them with stories of his past that easily earned the youngsters' interest and admiration.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division will continue to maintain close ties with the community and involve the young players of all the Division's teams in any activities that are the fruit of that involvement.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maxim Gretchkin nets his first goal of the season and Raz Itzhak adds the final touch as Maccabi's U19s book an important win over Beitar Jerusalem

After a period of mixed results that included a win, a loss and a draw, Maccabi's Under-19s hosted Beitar Jerusalem at the municipal stadium in Ramla for an encounter that was critical to their hold on the top spot in the Under-19 Premier League and their aspirations for the league title. And from the very start of the match, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" made clear their intentions to return to winning ways, putting the Beitar defence under pressure and creating a number of excellent chances. Gabriel Kanikovski ran riot down the opposition flanks and served up a number of excellent crosses for fellow midfielders Omri Haramati and Matan Hozez that but for the skills of Beitar keeper Lalo would have produced goals early on. On 17 minutes however even Lalo's best efforts failed as another of Kanikovski's crosses created a scramble in the Beitar defence in front of goal. After Matan Hozez saw a first effort saved, fellow midfielder Maxim Gretchkin slammed home his first goal of the season to put the home side in front 1-0. 

Head coach Ziv Arie's lads continued to show good form throughout the first half but failed to increase their advantage. After the break he sent on striker Yonatan Cohen for Omri Haramati but the half got off to a hesitant start. After ten minutes, when the first shot on goal appeared, it came from the visitors, their first of the match, but Maccabi keeper Sahar Hasson immediately smothered their hopes of drawing level. When the home side did return to life it was largely due to the efforts of Sohil Armeli in midfield and on 73 minutes the home-side crowd were finally rewarded for their patience. Second-half substitute Raz Itzhak dispossessed the Beitar defence and sent a long ball to Yonatan Cohen, who obliged Itzhak by returning him the ball in front of an empty net. This splendid co-operative effort thus extended Maccabi's lead to 2-0, but by no means ended "Shachar"'s domination of the match, and late on both Matan Hozez and fellow midfielder Eliel Peretz saw excellent efforts saved by the Beitar keeper. But the proceedings ended with the same 2-0 scoreline after a positive and pacey display by Maccabi that keeps them three points ahead of their nearest league rival Maccabi Haifa.

Next Saturday Ziv Arie and his squad will attempt to keep the smiles on their faces when they head south to face Hapoel Beer Sheva away.            

Maccabi's U19s played out their first goalless draw of the season against Maccabi Netanya

After ending a run of three defeats in all competitions with a convincing 5-0 win at Hapoel Ra'anana last week, Maccabi's Under-19s set out today for a tricky away tie at Maccabi Netanya. With their lead at the top of the U19 Premier League recently reduced from nine to five points, victory today would have proved an important tool in maintaining their league supremacy. Unfortunately their resolute opponents had other ideas as Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were held to their first goalless draw of the season. Head coach Ziv Arie's lads pressed their opponents throughout the contest but were unable to find the net and in the end were forced to share the points. And with their closest title rivals Maccabi Haifa winning again today, "Schachar"'s lead at the top was reduced to three points.

Maccabi Netanya's Under-19s have run an erratic course in the league so far this season, so it was down to the players of Maccabi Tel Aviv to set the tone from the start of the match, and that tone was attacking the opposition goal. The U19 Premier League's leading goalscorer, Yonatan Cohen, failed early on to get past Netanya keeper Dean Gal with a powerful shot and the team's subsequent pressure proved unable to create dangerous scoring situations of any significance. Midfielder Sohil Armeli, who scored a brace in last week's triumph against Hapoel Ra'anana, twice tried his luck at long range but to no avail and the final attempt of the goalless first half fell once again to Yonatan Cohen. His free kick had all the markings of posing a threat but was handled well by keeper Gal.

Fifteen minutes after the restart Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" created their most promising scoring opportunity of the match when Sohil Armeli powered into the Netanya area but his finish went wide. Yonatan Cohen also came close with yet another free kick and at the other end Maccabi Netanya also had their moment when Nir Azaria got within a fraction of Haviv Ohayon. But the sixteen year-old Maccabi keeper held his ground and the two sides finished the tie empty-handed, sharing the points of a goalless draw.

For Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s this was only their second draw of the 2014/15 season, and their first without scoring altogether. For Maccabi Netanya, this was their first draw of any sort, but this premier against the league's leading club succeeded in reducing "Shachar"'s advantage to a mere three points after Maccabi Haifa's win at Hapoel Ra'anana. Next week "Shachar" will head out to the nation's capital to face Beitar Jerusalem.  

 

Four first-half goals secured Maccabi's U19s an impressive 5-0 home win over Hapoel Ra'anana

The best way to recover from a run of discouraging results is to do it in style. After their disappointing mid-week exit from the U19 State Cup competition and two consecutive league defeats, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" did exactly that when they hosted Hapoel Ra'anana at Ramla municipal stadium in gameweek 21 of the U19 Premier League. "Shachar" netted four first-half goals and added a fifth after the break to beat Hapoel Ra'anana 5-0 and record their fourteenth league win, and their eleventh league clean sheet, of the 2014/15 season.

Head coach Ziv Arie made five changes to the eleven that opened the mid-week Cup loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv. With the late-winter heat wave bearing down upon them, the two sides started the first half slowly but halfway through "Shachar" found their footing and began to dominate procedures on the pitch. On 21 minutes striker Yonatan Cohen was brought down in the area, earning Ra'anana defender Yarin Sarig a red card and Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" a penalty kick. Midfielder Matan Hozez stepped up to the spot and scored his sixteenth goal of the season to put the home side 1-0 ahead. With increased confidence Maccabi stepped up the pressure and on 35 minutes an excellent team effort resulted in defender Shachar Fiban crossing to midfielder Sohil Armeli who slotted home to double the home-side advantage. Still hungry for goals, "Shachar" kept up the blitz and on 38 minutes Yonatan Cohen hit the woodwork from an exceptional free kick and defender Guy Aviv pounced on the rebound and added Maccabi's third at the expense of Ra'anana keeper Omri Glazer. Finally, on the stroke of half time, Maccabi made it 4-0 as Sohil Armeli scored his second on the day and tenth of the season off an expert long ball by team-mate Matan Hozez.

At the half Ziv Arie made a number of changes to his side, including sending on striker Raz Yitzhak, who had "Shachar"'s first opportunity to further widen the gap with a free header that missed the target by a whisker. But ten minutes from time it was midfielder Eliel Peretz who finally found the net to end the scoring at 5-0, a victory that keeps Maccabi's Under-19s five points clear at the top of the U19 Premier League ahead of their nearest rivals Maccabi Haifa, who also won on Saturday.

Next week Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will head 20 miles up the Mediterranean coast to play away to Maccabi Netanya.  

Today Maccabi's U19s will play their second derby in less than a fortnight, this time in the U19 State Cup quarter finals

Just a week and a half after playing, and losing, their last derby, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" have been drawn to play, and this time hopefully beat, municipal archrivals Hapoel Tel Aviv in the U19 State Cup quarter finals. Today at noon both sides will appear once again at the municipal stadium in nearby Ramla for a Maccabi "home" encounter to be broadcast on Israeli sports channel 55, with a ticket to the semi-finals of the prestigious competition hanging in the balance. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", enjoying an excellent season so far, will also see State Cup action today, visiting Beitar Tubruk for the privilege of advancing to the quarter finals of the U16 State Cup competition.

League fixtures will also be on the Youth Division agenda today as Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" host Hapoel Ramat Hasharon at the Kiryat Shalom training ground at 11am in gameweek 16 of the nationwide U15 League Central District. Gameweek 16 of the nationwide U15 League Sharon District will also be played today and at 1.30pm Maccabi's Under-15 Team 2 will be playing at Hapoel Ra'anana at 1.15pm. The nationwide U14 League Sharon District will be completing gameweek 14 today, with Maccabi's Under-14 Team North heading north to face Maccabi Haifa/Nahalal.

And now back to the State Cup. Maccabi's Under-14 Team South also head north for a 1pm Cup tie against Hapoel Yokneam with a view to advancing to the quarter finals of the U14 State Cup competition. A second State Cup derby will be played at 8.30am on Thursday when Maccabi's Under-13 Team North host their counterparts from Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Hadar Yosef playing field, with a place in the quarter finals of the U13 State Cup competition also at stake.

 

Yonatan Cohen's 38^th minute goal proved insufficient as Maccabi's U19s succumb 2-1 to Ashdod

After their dramatic loss last week in the Tel Aviv derby, only the third of the U19 Premier League season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" travelled south down the Mediterranean coast to face Ashdod FC, whom they beat 4-0 at home earlier in the season, with the hope of returning to the winning ways that had seen them triumph in seven consecutive league encounters. Their opponents in this matchday 20 tie came into the match on a wave of two consecutive victories and extended it to three after a goal in each half sufficed to beat a Maccabi side that produced only temporary relief, a 38^th minute equaliser by striker Yonatan Cohen.

Maccabi started the brighter side, but after half an hour of probing the Ashdod defences for a way to the goal, it was at the other end that the first goal of the game was scored. Ashdod's Dean David second shot on goal beat Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason and handed the home side a 1-0 lead. Eight minutes later the visitors restored parity when league-leading goalscorer Yonatan Cohen was brought down in the area and converted the penalty himself to bring the sides level until the break.

After the restart the home side took over the reins and just under ten minutes in only the timely intervention of Sahar Hason prevented Ashdod's Asfa from restoring home-side advantage. Six minutes later the Maccabi keeper was less fortunate when Elior Mishali pried a ball away from him and slotted home. At 2-1 down "Shachar" returned to life and made repeated attempts to get back into the game. Striker Mavis Chibota saw one shot blocked and a corner kick hit the woodwork, and both Yonatan Cohen and midfielder Matan Hozez came close in injury time. But ultimately the day belonged to Ashdod FC as Maccabi's Under-19s suffered their second defeat in as many outings, both by the score of 2-1. Fortunately for "Shachar" the damage was limited to the loss of a single point off their lead at the top of the national U19 Premier League after second-placed Maccabi Haifa drew with Hapoel Tel Aviv.

On Wednesday head coach Ziv Arie's lads will have the opportunity to restore normal service when they host municipal archrivals Hapoel Tel Aviv for a State Cup quarter-final derby.

 

Less than a fortnight after losing to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the league derby, Maccabi's U19s will have the opportunity to make amends in the Cup

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s draw for the quarter final of the U19 State Cup was a most intriguing one, a home tie against municipal archrivals Hapoel Tel Aviv. Head coach Ziv Arie's squad earned that draw after overwhelming Hapoel Haifa 0-5 in the last sixteen. After two league derbies and one victory each, Maccabi and Hapoel's third encounter this season will take place next Wednesday March 4^th, with the winner headed for the semi-finals. Before that, this coming Saturday at 10.30am, "Shachar" will head off to the Hayud Alef Stadium for an away encounter at Ashdod FC in matchday 20 of the national U19 Premier League. After a run of seven consecutive league wins was dramatically ended in the Tel Aviv derby last weekend, the U19s will attempt to return to winning ways and maintain their six-point league at the top of the league table.

Most of the club's other Youth Division teams will carry on with league duties on Saturday, but the league-leading Under-17s will be playing a postponed State Cup quarter-final tie away at Hakoach Amidar Ramat Gan at 8.30am at the Safari Field near Tel Aviv. Maccabi's Under-16s are also topping their league and will also be in Ramat Gan on Saturday for a 9am kick-off against Hapoel Ramat Gan at their Safari playing field. Another Maccabi Youth Division team on top of their league are the Under-15 Team 1, who will be at home at the Kiryat Shalom training ground on Saturday on the artificial pitch at 10.20am to host Gadna Tel Aviv. Maccabi's Under-15 Team 2 wll play away to Sharon District league leaders Maccabi Petach Tikva.

A third Maccabi Youth Division team to play in Ramat Gan this Saturday are the club's Under-14 Team South. Head coach Ori David's lads will also face counterparts from Hapoel Ramat Gan starting at 11am. The Under-14 Team North will be at Kiryat Shalom to welcome Hapoel Hod Hasharon for an early kick-off on the artificial pitch at 8.30am. The Under-13 Team South will head off to face Hapoel Ramat Hasharon on their artificial pitch at 1pm, while the Under-13 Team North will host Hapoel Beer Sheva at 12.15pm at Kiryat Shalom.