Every team in Maccabi's Youth Division played State Cup ties on Saturday – and they all won!

From the oldest kids to the youngest, every team in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division played State Cup ties on Saturday and all of them advanced to the next round. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" beat Hapoel Jerusalem 2-0 to advance to the fifth round of the U19 State Cup competition. Coaches Eliezer Ben Aharon and Gadi Brumer's Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" faced stiff competition in their last-sixteen away encounter against fellow title contenders Maccabi Petach Tikva. Omer Lakao opened the scoring for Maccabi in the second half, but the home side equalised in the final moments to send the match into extra time. It was there, seven minutes from time, that Or Dassa scored the winner for Maccabi Tel Aviv, sending "Oded" into the U17 State Cup quarter finals.

The club's Under-16s, Maccabi "Eli Fuchs", had an even greater drama in store as their first-round contest at Hapoel Ramat Gan ended deadlocked at 2-2 after extra time, with Yarin Sharabi and Desalin Balacho providing the Maccabi goals. But in the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the hosts missed their last shot and head coach Shlomi Mitelka's lads emerged 4-3 victors sending them through to round two.

The club's Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", had considerably less trouble in advancing to the quarter finals of the U15 State Cup competition. Head coach Eyal Tzachi's charges returned from Maccabi Kfar Yona convincing 0-6 winners. Leon Gardashov and Rotem Ziv both scored braces for the visitors, Adir Hardon and Raz Hadar added on. The Under 15 Team 2 followed suit, defeating Hapoel Nazareth Elite by the same scoreline to join "Eldad" in the quarter-finals. Yam Ben Yehuda scored a brace, Eyal Chen, Guy Ben Harush, Ari Yitzhak and Ron Rahimi all scored individual goals.

The next round of the U14 State Cup competition will also see two Maccabi Tel Aviv competitors. Team South reached the last sixteen with an impressive 7-0 win over Maccabi Emek Heffer. Tal Yagudaev scored twice for the home side, Osher Davida, David Degu, Omri Ram, Gil Ben Shlush and Bar Cohen provided the remaining five goals. Team North were more modest winners, beating Maccabi Herzliya away 0-1 courtesy of an Asaf Hershko winner.

Another Maccabi Youth Division team scheduled for State Cup action in Herzliya were the club's Under-13 Team North, but the match was postponed due to damage caused by the weekend's bad weather. Team South had better luck with the weather, and their match, as they rolled past Hapoel Mata Asher 5-0 at the Kiryat Shalom training ground to advance to round four of the U13 State Cup competition.

Other Youth Division teams that won and moved up a round in State Cup competitions were both of Maccabi's Under-12 and Under-10 teams.

 

 

  

 

 

Maccabi's U19s went four points clear at the summit after putting four past Hapoel Petach Tikva

A week after returning to the top spot in the national U19 Premier League table, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" widened their margin ahead of Maccabi Haifa to four points with a 1-4 win at bottom-of-table Hapoel Petach Tikva. "Shachar" took hold of the match early on and left in no doubt who the ultimate winner would be. Matan Hozez, Yonatan Cohen and Sohil Armeli all scored before the break and Cohen scored a second after the restart. It took Maccabi just twelve minutes to create the game's first chance, with midfielder Gabriel Kanikovski shooting over the net. On twenty-one minutes "Shachar" were already on the scoreboard when a player from the home side handled the ball in the area, allowing midfielder Matan Hozez to score from the penalty spot, a ninth goal that places him second on the list of "Shachar" goalscorers. Ahead of him, and everyone else in the league, stands striker Yonatan Cohen, who just six minutes later scored his twelfth of the season after receiving excellent service from fellow striker Mavis Tchibota. And if that were not enough, just three minutes after that Cohen turned provider with a corner kick that found the leg of midfielder Sohil Armeli, who turned the ball in to give Maccabi a 0-3 lead before the half hour mark, a lead that took them through the rest of the half.

Hapoel Petach Tikva, who have registered just two wins since the start of the season, opened the scoring after the restart when their Nigerien forward Hamido Hamudo scored on the hour mark to make it 1-3. Nine minutes later though "Shachar" had already restored their three-goal cushion after being awarded a penalty. Striker Raz Itzhak's spot kick was saved but Yonatan Cohen pounced on the deflection to score his second goal of the match. Later the home side were reduced to ten men and defender almost converted the resultant free kick but his effort flew over the net. Raz Itzhak  got a second bite at the apple when he rounded the keeper late on but the final touch eluded him once again and the final score stood at 1-4.

The victory sent Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" four points clear at the top of the national U19 Premier League table after second-placed Maccabi Haifa lost their match against Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Next Saturday will see the Under-19s start their season run in the prestigious State Cup competition when they welcome Hapoel Jerusalem to Kiryat Shalom training ground.

Line-up: Eliad Graf, Shachar Fiban, Sheked Azulay, Dan Glazer, Saar Kalderon, Gabriel Kanikovski, Eliel Peretz, Sohil Armeli, Matan Hozez, Yonatan Cohen, Mavis Tchibota   

 

 

 

Yesterday ten teams in the Maccabi Youth Division played Cup matches. All of them advanced to the next round

Ten teams in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division played Cup matches yesterday and all of them advanced to the next stage. The Under-17s opened their participation in the third round with an away tie against Ashdod FC. The match was not easily won but goals from Amit Shapira and Ittimar Shaviro provided head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" with a 1-2 victory. The club's Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", were already engaged in their third Cup tie, also a tricky encounter away at Kadima FC. But a goal by Adir Hardon settled the tie in Maccabi's favour and the Under-16s are assured of a place in the last sixteen. Another Maccabi Youth Division team to reach the last sixteen are the club's Under-15 Team 2. Head coach Erez Belfer led his squad to a 1-3 away victory at Beitar Haifa, with Eyal Chen adding a brace to Gil Rahimi's individual effort before the home side pulled one back close to the end.

Both of Maccabi's Under-14 teams, North and South, are through to the next round after victories over Shimshon Bnei Taibe and Beitar Ramat Gan respectively. The club's Under-13 Team North are also into the third round of the U13 Cup competition after beating Otzma Holon FC. Other Maccabi Youth Division teams to advance in Cup competition were the club's Under-12 and Under-10 teams, both North and South.

 

 

 

 

Maccabi's U19s visited a community centre near their Kiryat Shalom training ground

At the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, no opportunity gets missed to bring holiday cheer to children throughout Israel.  Today, with the Jewish festival of Hanukkah nearing its conclusion, the lads from the club's Under-19s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", had the closest possible destination in mind. Right next door to their own training facilities at Kiryat Shalom is Tel Aviv's "Shapira" neighbourhood and today four of "Shachar"'s squad members – Matan Hozez, Yonatan Cohen, Eliel Pertz and Mavis Tchibota – paid a visit to the local community centre, which has just recently reopened after extensive renovations. There the four Maccabi Under-19s held a festive showcase match against the community centre's first eleven of the same age group, who did a more than admirable job of holding their own in what was an entirely fair and sportsmanlike affair.  The final score was a tellingly slender 6-5 victory in favour of Maccabi.

To add to the festive nature of the visit, a drumming group joined in on the celebrations and the Maccabi youths handed out a gift to the young people at the community centre, a gift we all hope they'll make good use of in the future: Maccabi Tel Aviv loose-leaf ring binders.

 

 

 

The Maccabi Youth Division held a unique community Hanukkah celebration with children from Jerusalem's "Variety" programme: "Matters of greater value"

In their ongoing programme of community service, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division participated in a day devoted to bringing cheer to disabled children at Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of light. Representing the Youth Division were Maccabi's Under-14 Team South and the children in question numbered nearly one hundred, all between the ages of 2 and 5, and all participants in Jerusalem's "Variety" programme. The tie between "Variety" and the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division came as a result of a personal story of one of the youngsters playing in the Division. "Variety" Israel is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1967 to support and assist the tens of thousands of children with special needs in Israel, from birth up to the age of 18 years, without regard to religion, race or ethnic background. It focuses on areas such as medical treatments, paramedical treatments, therapeutic and rehabilitative equipment and professional, nursing and rehabilitation aides. 

Venue for the day's activities was the "Variety" centre in Jerusalem, a "home away from home" for all the participating children and their families. Together with head coach Ori David and his assistant Aviv Rein, the Under-14 Team South crew arrived in Jerusalem and provided the "Variety" children with a special opportunity to put a smile on their faces and, for the day at least, to feel like real football players themselves. The Maccabi boys went from one group to the next, helping the children to play the beautiful game in whatever way they could. The children for their part were as excited as could be to be part of a real football experience.

After their sports activity, all the children gathered together to sing Hanukkah songs, adding an extra dimension to the day. And what would a Hanukkah celebration without the traditional "suvganiot", the delicious jam-filled doughy buns that the Maccabi boys handed out to all the "Variety" children. But not just that. The children also received a special holiday gift from their Maccabi day-mates, a cup bearing the Maccabi Tel Aviv pennant. For their part, the team players of Maccabi's Under-14s each received a certificate of appreciation in gratitude for their visit.    

When the visit came to a close, director of "Variety" Israel, Edit Kupferman, spoke about the contribution the visit had made to the children: "The children were able to experience something they don't experience every day. By seeing these Maccabi youngsters in their kit playing football, the children were treated to a glimpse of their future possibilities. The boys and girls here love football and they play it in all the breaks, so this gives them an idea of how the game is really played. Here we have regular nursery schools and nursery schools for special education and all of the children participated together and that gives all the children a feeling of equality. The children got really involved in a special way with the Maccabi youngsters, even though they didn't know them personally. And the effect worked both ways".

Maccabi Youth Division educational consultant Chen Abdu looked back on the visit from the club's point of view: "A visit like this contributes as much to Maccabi as it does to "Variety". The greatest value of this kind of activity is to expose our youngsters to disabled children like those at "Variety". I assume most of the kids are aware that there are children with these problems, but until you've actually interacted with such children it's hard to appreciate the significance of their limitations. I believe it will help our boys to become better citizens, to venture beyond the enclosure of their daily routines and appreciate what's outside there, important matters of a higher value. The "Variety" kids are great, they really got involved very quickly with our boys. It's a win-win situation for everyone. For me it's like winning the Cup and lifting the trophy right here. Our kids will take this experience with them the rest of their lives, whether or not they actually turn out to be football players. I saw some absolutely amazing things, it's like getting to know our kids in another light. They were patient, understanding, showed empathy and it was simply a joy to see. It wasn't just a chance to play football but to do it in such a way that something beautiful came out of it. The fact is, we can help, we can do these things, not just at the senior level but also for our youth players. A day like this is very welcome indeed".

 

 

Two second-half goals by Mavis Tchibota and Matan Hozez handed Maccabi's U19s victory over Maccabi Haifa and returned them to the top of the U19 Premier League

Today Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s went into their title contender's clash with Maccabi Haifa two points behind the league leaders, but after 94 hard-fought minutes at the Kiryat Shalom training ground the two clubs traded places as Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" beat their northern namesakes 2-1. Both sides came into the match on the back of disappointing losses in last week's league fixtures, but it was "Shachar" who demonstrated greater resilience in returning to form. The two second-half goals were scored by substitutes, with forward Mavis Tchibota putting the home side ahead in the 75^th minute and young international Matan Hozez doubling their advantage from the spot in injury time. Maccabi Haifa pulled one back in the dying moment of the match but it was Maccabi Tel Aviv that took home all three points to climb back to the summit of the U19 Premier League.

The many hundreds of fans that crowded into Kiryat Shalom or stood peering through perimeter fences waited over twenty minutes from kick-off to see the first real threat on goal, an excellent opportunity for striker Dor Galili fed through by fellow striker Jonatan Cohen but blocked by an alert Maccabi Haifa keeper, Tal Bomstein. Under increasing home-side pressure "Shachar"'s third striker, Raz Yitzhak, saw an effort blocked in a similar fashion. With "Shachar" dominating possession, Maccabi Haifa attacked mostly on the break, one of them finding Shaun Weissman in the goal area with just keeper Sahar Hason to beat. But Hason held his nerve and prevented the Maccabi Haifa international from putting the visitors ahead. The last opportunity of the half was once again the result of collaboration between Cohen and Galili, but this time the result was a shot over the net.

Despite a "Shachar" double substitution at half time, it was Maccabi Haifa who came closest just after the restart, with Shaun Weissman once again responsible for the shot and Sahar Hason for the save. Thereafter Maccabi Tel Aviv returned to dominance, resulting in a goal by the excellent Gabriel Kanikovski ruled out for offside and substitute Matan Hozez rattling the crossbar. But ultimately it was another substitute, young Congolese striker Mavis Tchibota, who broke the ice in the 75^th minute after a skillful double-pass with midfielder Sohil Armeli left him in position to chip over the keeper's head into the far post. Later Tchibota shot an opportunity to double "Shachar"'s lead under similar circumstances wide of the net, but in injury time Matan Hozez did the job after being brought down in the area. He stepped up to take his own penalty and coolly gave his side a 2-0 lead. In the match's final moment Maccabi Haifa pulled one back through Raz Meir, but the final result of 2-1 meant three points for Maccabi Tel Aviv and a return to the top of the national U19 Premier League table.

Line-up: Sahar Hason, Shachar Fiban, Dan Glazer, Sean Goldberg, Saar Kalderon, Gabriel Kanikovski, Eliel Peretz, Sohil Armeli, Yonatan Cohen, Dor Galili, Raz Itzhak

In a statement issued by Maccabi Tel Aviv after the match, the club sent this message to those fans who could not be accommodated for seating at the match: "Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club acted in accordance to instructions by the police regarding match security and the number of spectators anticipated at this U19 contest, broadcast live on television. We advised supporters to arrive as early as possible to Kiryat Shalom due to limited seating at the pitch. We apologise for the fact that we are unable to accommodate the many fans who came to see the match and were unable to get in. The decision to hold the match at Kiryat Shalom was made in large part in order to meet the demands of the broadcaster and make possible the live television coverage. That having been said, the club pledge to draw the appropriate conclusions from the incident and apologise to all our supporters for the resultant unpleasantries".

 

On Saturday the two U19 league leaders, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, meet at Kiryat Shalom. Seating is limited

On Saturday Maccabi's Tel Aviv's Under-19s, now holding down the second spot in the Israeli U19 Premier ("Toto") League, will welcome to Kiryat Shalom training ground league leaders Maccabi Haifa for an intriguing encounter to be broadcast midday on Israel's sports channel 55. A victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will mean recapturing the top spot, with their northern namesakes slipping into second. Head coach Ziv Arie's "Shachar" go into the match after two topsy-turvy weeks, the first a stunning 0-8 away victory over Sektzia Nes Tziona and the second a disappointing 1-3 loss to Ironi Kiryat Shmona, their first home defeat of the season. Maccabi Haifa too saw a run of victories put to an abrupt end last week after a 1-0 loss to the same Sektzia Nes Tziona. In short, both sides will go into the match seeking to improve their fortunes and the result is likely to be an outstanding encounter.

So far "Shachar" have racked up eight wins, two losses and a draw in their first eleven league encounters. Maccabi Haifa have the one extra win instead of a draw giving them a two-point lead at the top. But The "Greenies" haven't won at Kiryat Shalom since September 2008 and last year their defeat here was a comprehensive 4-0. "Shachar"'s attack is also the most prolific in the league, with 38 goals scored in eleven outings. Leading the list are striker Yonatan Cohen with eleven goals and midfielder Matan Hozez with seven. Their defence is equally effective – the seven goals they've conceded is lowest in the league, and almost half of them came last Saturday against Kiryat Shmona! Reason enough for optimism at the yellow end of the pitch, but where clashes between these two titans go, anything can happen. One thing though is for certain, when the two clubs meet that between them have shared the U19 title for the past six years, expect the sparks to fly!

Unfortunately, the club have been authorised to allow only 350 spectators to enter the ground and these instructions will be strictly adhered to. Fans are therefore advised to arrive at Kiryat Shalom as early as possible to ensure their seats at the match. We must also advise our fans that anyone leaving the ground during the course of the match will not be allowed to re-enter.

Here follows a list of the rest of the other weekend Maccabi Youth Division matches:

Under-17s – away at Bnei Sakhnin (Sakhnin, 12.50pm)

Under-16s – derby away at Hapoel Tel Aviv (Wolfson training ground, 8.30am)

Under- 15s Team 1 – away at Beitar Tel Aviv (Ofer Park, Ramle, 8.30am)

Under- 15s Team 2 – at home to Maccabi Haifa (Kiryat Shalom, artificial pitch, 10.20am)

Under -14s Team North – at home to Hapoel Haifa (Kiryat Shalom, artificial pitch, 12.15pm)

Under -14s Team South – at home to Ashdod FC (Kiryat Shalom, artificial pitch, 8.30am)

Under -13s Team North – away at Maccabi Shoham (Shoham, 9am)

Under -13s Team South – away at Bnei Yehuda (Schunat Hatikva, Friday 8.30am)

 

In a professional column, club psychologist Noam Eyal talks about the pressures of being a Maccabi player

"A lot has been written about the 'infamous' pressures of being a player at Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club. No-one of course is denying it nor attempting to conceal that fact from the players themselves. In fact it could be said that the ability to withstand pressure is one of the character traits the club look out for in their players, but the pressure itself is greeted by the players themselves with mixed feelings. There can be no question about the fact that this pressure is a source of consternation for players in many of their matches. During the course of tense play on the pitch, decreases in performance, at times extreme, are quite noticeable. What is also noticeable is that however they may wish to do so, at such times players are simply unable to perform. On the other hand, at Maccabi Tel Aviv a football match without pressure is regarded as an anomaly, which is as much as to say that everyone associated with Maccabi regards pressure as a positive force and it is therefore only appropriate that it should form an important aspect of all of the club's matches. Many of Maccabi's rivals have as much as conceded matches in advance in the anticipation of confronting those pressures once the match gets started. Paradoxically then, not only are the Maccabi players in danger of suffering from this pressure, but their rivals too, perhaps even more so. That on condition that our players are taught to direct that pressure outward and not inward.

For those youngsters unfamiliar with the history of the club, it should be pointed out that that's the way it's always been at Maccabi Tel Aviv.  As I have heard from the ever decreasing number of Maccabi veterans, even before the establishment of the State of Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv matches inflamed local passions that were palpably felt by the clubs they played against. So why is it that pressure and passion have become part and parcel of life at Maccabi and in fact have become a "cross to bear" on the road to every league, Cup and international achievement? This is a phenomenon recognised throughout the world. In almost every country there is a renowned club whose matches generate that special kind of intense fervour both inside and outside the stadium, fervour that can be heard in the question on everyone's lips following every weekend of football: "How did they do?"

The answer to the question why there is always pressure, and why always at Maccabi, can be broken down into several essential parts.

First of all, Maccabi Tel Aviv are Israel's first competitive football club, the football club from the country's most influential city, the most successful football club in the country. The football club that always remained outside the influence of the socialist tradition that governed the country for so long in its formative years and handed out all the "goodies". The football club that never had the comfort and identity that come with the ownership of a home stadium of their own. The football club that have survived every disaster and, unlike every other club in Israel, have never ever been relegated. All that and more, much more. Maccabi Tel Aviv are the first born of the Israeli football family, the older brother all the other younger brothers look up to. Whenever the going gets rough, everybody wants to know "What will Maccabi do?". Maccabi always showed the others the way, always fought against powers stronger and more numerous than themselves, and they did it all on their own. Their defeats never got them down on their knees, their embarrassments never brought down expectations, it was always taken for granted that Maccabi would be back for the whole nine yards.

But in recent years an increasing number of concerns have been expressed regarding the damage caused by the "infamous" Maccabi Tel Aviv pressure, as if now the club should somehow rid themselves of it altogether. But the club shouldn't be looking for ways to escape that pressure, in fact it would be a disaster if they did. By doing so they would be negating their very essence, an essence that has been existence for close to a century. What Maccabi should be doing is showing the rest how to succeed in the face of that pressure, in fact owing to that pressure, because it is the test of performing under that pressure that determines who the great athletes are. Achievements made in the absence of great pressure go unappreciated. To bear that pressure a whole season long, to suffer from the expectations and criticisms starting way back in August, to calmly dispatch all the "little brothers" who are out to replace you but also fear you, that is Maccabi's mission and contribution to the love of the sporting spirit. A title snatched on the final day of the season without having experienced the pressure of the entire season is less likely to impassion fans who take pride in the road getting there. And when at Maccabi Tel Aviv they speak about the "road", it's not the same road they're talking about at Maccabi Haifa or at Beitar Jerusalem or at Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Maccabi Tel Aviv know that in order to succeed, they must bear more pressure than at any other club. The biggest fan base in Israel is looking for that special something only to be found with the "first born". And that, in fact, is what the "infamous" Maccabi pressure is. And so my Maccabi friends, players, fans, managers and others, our goal should not be reducing the pressure but looking for those who thrive on that pressure and see it as the key to success. It's hard to like pressure, though from my experience it is possible. But it is possible to withstand that pressure in the terraces when things go wrong, to carry on cheering instead of losing one's cool. Because if we do, than the players too will have no choice but to carry on in the face of setbacks. After all, there are only eleven of them, there are thousands of us. Who better then to safeguard our tradition and show the way forward?"

Noam Eyal, psychologist   

 

    

 

Maccabi's U19s suffered only their second season defeat, and their first at home, 1-3 to Ironi Kiryat Shmona

There's never a "good" time to lose, especially not at home. But Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", who suffered their first home loss of the season 1-3 at the hands of Ironi Kiryat Shmoni, can take some consolation from the fact that at the same time their chief U19 Premier League title rivals Maccabi Haifa also lost, and to a team that Maccabi's Under-19s only last week beat comprehensively 0-8, Sektzia Nes Tsiona. After "Shachar" striker Yonatan Cohen succeeded in equalising twenty minutes from time, it looked like a draw, or perhaps even a win, against Kiryat Shmona might return "Shachar" to the top spot in the national U19 Premier League table. Alas, those hopes were scuttled by the visitors with two quick and surprising goals close to the end of the match, leaving "Shachar" with their first home defeat of the 2014/15 season.

Only after twenty odd minutes of sizing one another up did either of the two contestants at the Kiryat Shalom training ground raise their game. At that point, after an impressive personal effort, Maccabi striker Mavis Tchibota sent a high ball to fellow striker Yonatan Cohen who headed in, only to see the linesman's flag go up at the touchline. Moments later at the other end the visitors let an excellent chance go begging when Maccabi keeper Haviv Ohayon stopped Kiryat Shmona's Ophir Takiar, whom he faced on his own. But a few minutes later the Maccabi defence proved less effective in stopping Ujuko Ugo from putting Kiryat Shmona out in front 0-1, a scoreline that held until half time.

News of Maccabi Haifa's loss might have proved a motivating factor for head coach Ziv Arie's side after the restart, but the pattern established in the first half continued and until halfway through the second half "Shachar" struggled to open up any holes in the Kiryat Shmona defences. That is until the 69^th minute, when Yonatan converted a free kick by shooting high into the Kiryat Shmona net to draw his side level and bring his season total to eleven goals in as many league outings. Two minutes later substitute striker Raz Itzhak had an excellent chance to put Maccabi ahead but his low strike in front of goal rolled wide. But just as "Shachar" seemed to gathering a head of steam, Kiryat Shmona struck twice in succession. On 77 minutes Ujuko Ugo got his second, poking in a deflected Karam Ashrad cross from the goalline. Five minutes later Ugo completed his hat-trick, turning in a second cross at the far post to establish an unassailable 1-3 advantage.

It was only the second loss of the season for Maccabi's Under-19s and their first at Kiryat Shalom. Unable to take advantage of Maccabi Haifa's loss, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar' remain in second place in the national U19 Premier League table, trailing the league leaders by the same two points. Next Saturday the two top teams will meet one another at Kiryat Shalom.

Line-up: Haviv Ohayon, Shachar Fiban, Shaked Azulay, Sean Goldberg, Saar Kalderon, Dan Glazer, Eliel Peretz, Gabriel Kanikovski, Matan Hozez, Mavis Tchibota, Yonatan Cohen.   

 

 

 

 

 

A stellar second-half performance handed Maccabi's Under-19s an easy 3-0 win against Hapoel Beer Sheva

A week after losing their first league match of the 2014/15 season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were keen to provide an immediate response and return to winning ways. What stood in their way for the first 45 minutes this Saturday at the Kiryat Shalom training ground were Hapoel Beer Sheva, who succeeded in holding Maccabi to a goalless stalemate until the break. After the restart however "Shachar" produced a stellar performance and slammed three past their southern opponents without reply, two from the foot of midfielder Matan Hozez and the third from fellow midfielder Eliel Peretz.

Head coach Ziv Arie made four changes to the squad that lost last week at Beitar Jerusalem, adding senior squad defender Shean Goldberg, striker Stav Ben Aharon and midfielders Gabriel Kanikovski and Matan Hozez to his first eleven. The first player to threaten the Beer Sheva goal though was Eliel Peretz, who latched on to a ball left by striker Mavis Tchibota at the edge of the area and drew a good save from visiting keeper Raz Rahamim. Fifteen minutes later it was Rahamim again sparing his side a deficit by slapping Matan Hozez's well curled corner onto the bar. These were the only Maccabi threats of note until Stav Ben Aharon and Gabriel Kanikovski came close to scoring in the final moments of the half.

After the restart "Shachar" turned up the heat and the effects were felt almost immediately. Five minutes in Maccabi were awarded a penalty and Matan Hozez did the honours to put the home side 1-0 in front. Thereafter "Shachar" continued to create chances and just short of the hour mark it was once again Mavis Tchibota providing for Eliel Peretz. This time though the midfielder hit his mark, scoring high in the net to double Maccabi's advantage. Later team captain Dan Glazer also came close to scoring his maiden goal for the Under-19s after being set up brilliantly by striker Dor Galili but the Beer Sheva keeper stood in his way. After 75 minutes though Rahamim was no longer able to stop Maccabi's third, provided by substitute striker Yonatan Cohen and scored again by Matan Hozez, his sixth goal of the season.

This 3-0 victory over Hapoel Beer Sheva keeps Maccabi second in the U19 Premier League table, trailing by the same two points Maccabi Haifa, who beat Beitar Jerusalem by the same 3-0 scoreline.

Line-up: Haviv Ohayon, Sheked Azulay, Shachar Fiban, Sean Goldberg, Maxim Gretschkin, Dan Glazer, Eliel Peretz, Gabriel Kanikovski, Matan Hozez, Stav Ben Aharon, Mavis Tchibota.

Photographs: Chen Seders