Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19's registered their most impressive victory of the season so far, overwhelming Bnei Yehuda 6-0 at Kiryat Shalom. Goals by Saar Kalderon (brace), Guy Aviv, Ofek Barzani, Amit Farhi and Yonatan Cohen

With six games left to the Under-19 Premier League season, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" and league leaders Maccabi Haifa remain locked in a tight race for the title, with just four points still separating the two sides. With one eye on that race, "Shachar" hosted municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda on Saturday at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Ten minutes into the match defender turned forward Ofek Barzani already put the home side ahead with the team's first clear chance, a corner by fellow forward Yonatan Cohen that Barzani headed past the Bnei Yehuda keeper. Ten minutes later defender Guy Cohen doubled that lead with a fierce and accurate shot from inside the area that raced past the keeper into the far corner of the net. "Shachar"'s eighth win in their last ten outings looked even more likely nine minutes from half time when Yonatan Cohen was sent through with just the keeper to beat and cool-headedly shot past him to increase the home side's margin to 3-0. Bnei Yehuda's Amir Cohen made an attempt to get his side back into the match, but Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason was having nothing of it and kept his goal in tact until the half.

The same picture quickly emerged after the restart, with "Shachar" maintaining the pace of their attack. With six minutes gone, left back Saar Kalderon found the net for what would prove to be his first goal of the match, and at 4-0 the ultimate winner was no longer in doubt. Guy Aviv and Yonatan Cohen followed with their own efforts to raise the tally, but it was substitute striker Amit Fahri who scored Maccabi's fifth, firing into an unguarded net for his third goal of the season. But Saar Kalderon had not yet spoken his final word and finished off the Under-19's splendid attacking display two minutes from time when he broke free down the left and completed his side's impressive 6-0 rout.

The result keeps head coach Ziv Arie's side four points behind Maccabi Haifa, who also won on Saturday. Next week "Shachar" will head out to face Hapoel Ramat Hasharon.

Click here to see the national Under-19 Premier League table

Click here to see Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s full fixture schedule

    

 

 

A 90th minute Ofek Barzani goal saves Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" a point away against Hapoel Rishon Lezion

Matchweek 23 in the National Under-19 Premier League saw the charges of head coach Ziv Arie's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" head off to play Hapoel Rishon Lezion. It was the home side who opened strongly and with just a minute on the matchclock, "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason was already called into action to sweep away a header from inside his area. A minute later, though, Hason was not so lucky as Rishon's Daniel Bloomfield succeeded in beating him from inside the area to give his side a 1-0 advantage.  The home side continued to press their advantage in the first half, but opportunities of beating the Maccabi keeper on 20 minutes and just before the break were both left begging. Maccabi, too, had their moments and on the stroke of half time midfielder Matan Hozez escaped his markers, but his shot sailed past post of Rishon keeper Chen Ashal.

After the restart it was "Shachar" who went on the offensive, and seven minutes in striker Sohil Armeli came close to scoring off a corner. A minute later it was defender Shaun Goldberg getting his head to a corner but his shot went wide. Just short of the hour mark, substitute midfielder Ofek Barzani burst into the area from the right and let fly with a shot that the Rishon keeper stopped only at full stretch. In the 72nd minute midfielder Saar Kalderon left a ball for Guy Aviv in the heart of the area but once again Chen Ashal was at the ready. Ten minutes later the action was at the other end, with a good Rishon chance being cleared off the line. But it was in the final moment of the match that Maccabi's pressure bore fruit, when a splendid individual effort by Barzani finished in the substitute's chipping the ball over the Rishon keeper to bring the sides level at 1-1. Guy Aviv almost succeeded in winning the match for Maccabi in extra time but again his shot went wide and at the final whistle "Shachar" were forced to make do with the one point.

In matchweek 24, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will welcome municipal neighbours Bnei Yehuda for a "little" derby at Kiryat Shalom training ground.

Line-up: Sahar Hason, Guy Aviv, Shaun Goldberg, Oliver Spring (Shachar Fiben –  '46), Saar Kalseron, Dan Glazer (Effie Tal –  '66), Eliel Peretz (Sheked Azulai –  46), Daniel Gretz, Sohil Armeli, Amit Farhi (Ofek Barzani –  '55), Matan Hozez (Yonatan Cohen –  '46)      

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" extended their run of good form with a 3-0 victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona. Goals by Sohil Armeli, Yonatan Cohen and Eliel Peretz

The return of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s to form could not have been timed better and today the team extended their excellent run of a seventh victory in eight outings with a 3-0 victory over their counterparts from Ironi Kiryat Shmona. In doing so, head coach Ziv Arie's charges kept up the pressure at the top of the Nation Under-19 Premier League table by maintaining the four points that separate them from league leaders Maccabi Haifa.

After winning the parallel home fixture earlier this season, Ironi Kiryat Shmona arrived at Maccabi's Kiryat Shalom training ground hoping to repeat the feat, and in the first half they did in fact show the greater attacking intent. But they were unable to get past Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason, who kept a clean sheet as he has done in the past six matches. At the other end, Maccabi's Ofek Barzani, who netted a brace last week against Maccabi Netanya, was once again placed in the striker's role and his overhead kick in the first half came close to finding its target. Midfielders Shaked Azulay and Daniel Gretz also saw their efforts miss their mark and the first half ended in a goalless deadlock. 

After the restart it was striker Sohil Armeli whose measured strike into the corner of the Kiryat Shmona net from inside the area who put Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" in front 1-0 and sent his teammates off to the terraces to celebrate with the fans. The advantage was doubled four minutes later with striker Yonatan Cohen's fifth goal of the season and nine minutes from time substitute midfielder Eliel Peretz scored the third Maccabi goal from close range to seal yet another decisive victory for the club's Under-19s.

The victory extended "Shachar"'s longest run of good form this season, having taken 22 of their last 24 points with seven consecutive clean sheets and a goal ratio of 17 to 1. They still trail Maccabi Haifa by four points after the league leaders also won this Saturday, beating Hapoel Rishon Lezion, where "Shachar" will play their next game in matchweek 23 of the Israeli Under-19 Premier League.  

 

Players of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division brought Purim cheer to elder citizens at their club at the Beit Dani community centre

In the framework of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division's service to the community programme, three of the Division's goalkeepers yesterday visited the elder citizens club in an ongoing partnership with Tel Aviv's "Tikva" neighbourhood community centre, Beit Dani. After Under-19 squad members visited the centre last December for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, yesterday it was the turn of three of the Division's goalkeepers, all of whom play for different teams. Under-17 and Israel goalkeeper Haviv Ohayon, Under-15 goalkeeper Ofir Twig and Under-11 goalkeeper Gal Twig all arrived at the centre with a representative of the Maccabi Tel Aviv volunteer community service group "Achim Lesemel" to distribute traditional parcels of treats and bring festive Purim cheer to all the residents. As a token of their appreciation for the club's contribution, the residents in return presented the delegation with a present of their own – a yellow cushion with the club's emblem which they had embroidered on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

An Ofek Barzani brace handed Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s an important victory over Maccabi Netanya and elevated them to the second spot in the national Under-19 Premier League table

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s continued their good form in an away tie against Maccabi Netanya with an important 0-2 victory. The Under-19s went into the match, played at Maccabi Netanya's brand new training complex, having won five of their last six matches and having narrowed the gap with national Under-19 Premier League leaders Maccabi Haifa to four points.

Here too it became apparent that head coach Arie Ziv's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" had no intention of taking their foot off the gas. They dominated from the very start of the contest and just three minutes from kick-off that dominance expressed itself in the scoreline. An accurate cross by defender Saar Kalderon found fellow defender Ofek Barzani, today playing in attack, who struck into the Netanya net to give his side a 0-1 advantage. "Shachar" continued to dominate and midfielder Shaked Azulay tried to score his first goal of the season but his effort from inside the area went high. The hosts came close to an equaliser, capitalising on an error in the "Shachar" defence, but keeper Sahar Hason blocked the resulting shot. At the other end midfielder Daniel Gretz came very close to doubling "Shachar"'s advantage but his shot strayed wide, and the sides left the pitch at the halftime whistle with Maccabi Tel Aviv still leading 0-1.

After the restart Netanya threatened with a free kick that hit the woodwork, but thereafter "Shachar" embarked on a series of attacks that would ultimately lead to their second goal. Five minutes before the hour mark striker Sohil Armeli crossed to Barzani in space, who sent a powerful header past the Netanya keeper for his, and his team's, second goal of the day. "Shachar" looked confident with their two-goal cushion, but another defensive error forced a second save by Hason of a shot by Netanya's Nour Bissan. In the time remaining three "Shachar" substitutes tried their luck at widening the team's advantage, but efforts by striker Yonatan Cohen and midfielders Isaac Schuach and Eliel Peretz all missed their targets. Defender Guy Aviv also threatened, but Netanya keeper Dean Gal was there to save.

At the final whistle, though, Barzani's brace proved sufficient and Maccabi's Under-19s recorded their six victory in seven outings and their sixth straight match without conceding a goal. The victory lifted Ziv Arie's charges to second place in the national Under-19 Premier League table at the expense of Beitar Tubruk, who could only manage a goalless draw against Ashdod FC. "Shachar" remain four points behind league leaders Maccabi Haifa, who won 1-5 at Ironi Kiryat Shmona.   

Youth Premier League table

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club continue their partnership with the association "Educating for Excellence", established for the purpose of promoting equal opportunity in education with a view to narrowing the enormous social and economic gaps that exist within Israeli society.The latest expression of this ongoing partnership took place today when the club's Under-11 Team South, under stewardship of coaches Idan Kazinic and Kfir Alfonte, hosted children from the association's Kiryat Shalom branch. The children held a joint practice that included physical exercises and a practice game with children from both groups mixed in the opposing teams.

"Educating for Excellence" have set their sights on providing all of the participating children with tools for academic success while imparting to them knowledge about the world in various fields and contributing to their social integration. These objectives are pursued with the children by transforming education into a value and knowledge into an endeavour.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-13 "Bar Mitzvah" team, under the stewardship of coaches Ory David and Kobi Ozer, invited their Under-13 counterparts from Hapoel Youth Taibe, an Israeli Arab town near Kfar Saba, to play a friendly match at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Apart from its athletic dimension, the purpose of the game was to send a clear message of mutual understanding and tolerance between the two diverse Israeli communities in which the youngsters and their trainers live. The match, which Maccabi won 4-1, was preceded by a small ceremony at which the Director of Football at the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, Nir Levin, spoke a few short words about the importance of bringing the two communities together in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual understanding, with a view to ongoing co-operation between them in the areas of education and community relations. 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19's beat Ashdod FC at Kiryat Shalom courtesy of a goal by striker Dor Jan

Today Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" hosted Ashdod FC at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. The Under-19s came into the match after battling out a goalless draw last Saturday with Beitar Tubruk. In the parallel away fixture, Maccabi beat Ashdod 0-1 courtesy of a goal by midfielder Dor Peretz. This time around head coach Ziv Arie's charges put on the pressure from the very start of the match, but the first real opportunity came just five minutes before the break when midfielder Daniel Gretz hit the post. After the restart, the home side kept up the pressure and three minutes past the hour mark the pressured paid off when striker Dor Jan scored the winning goal to award "Shachar" all three points. In the time that remained Ashdod looked for an equaliser but it was Maccabi that saw the best chance when striker Amit Farhi came close in the dying moments of the match.

For Maccabi it was the second consecutive home victory and their fifth in the last six league encounters. Next Saturday the them will travel to play away at Maccabi Netanya, who this week beat Maccabi Haifa to bring Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" within four points of the national Under-19 League leaders. Click here for a look at the full table.

Line-up: Sahar Hason, Guy Aviv, Shachar Fiban, Sean Goldberg, Saar Kalderon, Dan Glazer, Sohil Armeli (Edan Yugav '76), Daniel Gretz (Sheked Azulai '70), Matan Hozez (Amit Farhi '46), Yonatan Cohen (Eliel Peretz '60), and Dor Jan (Ofek Barzani '84). 

The Under-19 pacesetters duel between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Beitar Tubruk ended in match of few opportunities and no goals at all

With the wind of four consecutive league victories in their sails, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" set off on Saturday for Netanya to face fellow National Under-19 Premier League pacesetters Beitar Tubruk. In the event, Maccabi's Under-19s were treated to an unseasonably hot day on a synthetic pitch and a stubborn opponent that made them struggle to carve out any credible threats in front of the opposition goal. And in fact it was the hosts who created the first real danger, with a free kick by Tubruk's Iyad Abu Abid that hit the post of Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason's goal. Meanwhile every "Shachar" attempt to penetrate the Tubruk area and conjure up a chance on goal met with the erstwhile resistance of the Tubruk defence. At the other end Tubruk's Cabrerra and Nesikovski both tried to surprise Hason with shots from outside the area, but at halftime the goalless stalemate was still intact.

The start of the second half saw more of the same, with neither goalkeeper, besides the heat, having to work up much of a sweat. Only after 72 minutes of play was Maccabi striker Dor Jan able to break the defensive pattern when he fancied his luck with a shot from inside the Tubruk area, but keeper Mahadi Zoavi was at the ready. But the effort did kick-start a flurry of attacking activity that saw head coach Ziv Arie's charges press forward until the end of the match, starting moments after Jan's shot with two efforts by striker Yonatan Cohen that resulted in corners. One found midfielder Daniel Gretz but his close-range header went over. In the second, Cohen tried a more direct approach to the goal, but Zoavi palmed away his corner kick at the very last minute. The match ended with a dangerous cross by Dor Jan but Zoavi managed to get a leg to it, leaving Tel Aviv "Shachar" with their first goalless draw of the season.

Next week, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will attempt to return to their winning ways when they host their Under-19 counterparts from Ashdod FC at the Kiryat Shalom training ground.

 

 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s recorded their fourth consecutive victory in the national Under-19 Premier League with a 0-1 away win at Hapoel Ramat Gan. Sohil Armeli scored the winning goal just after the quarter hour mark

Last week's rest from league duties caused no interruption in the continued good form of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" in the national Under-19 Premier League as they recorded an important 0-1 away victory at neighbouring rivals Hapoel Ramat Gan. At the home fixture in September the roles were reversed, but this time the charges of head coach Ziv Arie made clear from the start that they intended to repay their hosts with an away win of their own.

It was fullback Sean Goldberg that created Maccabi's first real chance of the game with a cross that striker Yonatan Cohen narrowly missed latching on to. But the action continued to move in the direction of the Ramat Gam goal and just past the quarter hour mark that activity paid dividends. "Shachar" striker Dor Jan controlled a long ball from his defence and charged down the pitch before crossing into the area. This time Yonatan Cohen left the honours to Sohil Armeli, the Under-17 striker now turned midfielder, who stuck the ball firmly into the Ramat Gan net for his fourth league goal of the season. Later, Armeli's former striking partner Cohen made an attempt of his own, but his header sailed narrowly over the goal and at half time it was still the one goal that separated the two sides.

After the restart "Shachar" maintained the pace of their first half endeavours, this time with midfielder Daniel Gretz posing the greatest danger with a header from close range that went high and a flat drive that hit the post. For their part, the hosts were not idle in their attempts to find an equaliser, but Maccabi keeper Sahar Hason saved their best chance one on one against Ramat Gan midfielder Motti Breshetzky. Breshetzky had another go ten minutes from time but this time Hason took no part as the attempt sailed high over the net. Towards the end of the match Ramat Gan pressed further down the pitch allowing "Shachar" to respond time and again on the break. In one such attack substitute striker Amit Farhi headed wide from close range, but at the whistle it was the early goal that handed Maccabi's Under-19s this important 0-1 victory that avenged their home loss to the same club earlier in the season and extended their best run of form so far this season with their fourth consecutive league triumph.

Next Saturday "Shachar" will be on the road once again for an intriguing pacesetters duel against Beitar Tubruk. For a look at the entire national Under-19 Premier League table, click here.