Three teams in Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division will participate today in the finals of National Cup for Youth in an open day organised by the Israel Football Association

After an exhausting tournament that began in the early rounds, three of Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division teams will participate today in the finals of National Cup for Youth, which will be played at the second annual Israel Football Association open day at the National Stadium in Ramat Gan.

At 12.30pm Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-13s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo", will face their counterparts from Hapoel Rishon Lezion. In earlier rounds the Maccabi youngsters have already defeated Hapoel Ashkelon, Maccabi Netanya, Hapoel Ramat Hasharon and, in the semi-finals, Hapoel Ra'anana.

At 3pm it will be the turn of the Under-12s and Under-11s, who will play their final matches at the same hour. The Under-12s, like their older Maccabi clubmates, will face Hapoel Rishon Lezion, while the Under-11s will be up against Maccabi Petach Tikva.

At the Israel Football Association open day there will be a wide range of attractions, competitions, performances and an exhibition match pitting a team of past stars of the Israel National Team against a team of current stars in the world of entertainment. There will be a special stand for the European Under-21 championships that will be held in Israel in June, and members of the young Israel team will be there to sign autographs along with tours that will be conducted of the national team's dressing rooms. For the participants there will be some very valuable prizes too: A family holiday at one of the Fattal hotels in Eilat or the Dead Sea, a free flight for the whole family to see the Israel national team play in Portugal, official match footballs, national team jerseys and much more.  

 

 

A late goal by midfielder Matan Hozaz proved insufficient to prevent Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s from losing 2-1 to ironi Kiryat Shmona

Having taken seven points from their last three matches to return to the upper reaches of the national Youth Premier League table, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar' set out today for a tricky away tie against ironi Kiryat Shmona. On their last travels, MTA's Under-19s returned with a 0-1 victory over Ashdod FC but this time luck was not on their side. After a goalless first half, Kiryat Shmona scored two quick goals after the restart and conceded only one in reply, by MTA midfielder Matan Hozaz, close to the final whistle. As a result, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" return from matchweek seven in the Youth Premier League having suffered a 2-1 loss to the home side.

Making his maiden appearance for "Shachar" was MTA Under-17 striker Raz Yitzhak, who at the beginning of the week scored five goals for the Israel national Under-17 side who thrashed Lichtenstein in the European Championship qualifiers. Today he teamed up with captain Dor Jan in attack but neither succeeded in breaching a stubborn Kiryat Shmona defence in the first half. The hosts, looking for only their second victory this season, also failed to find the net before the break and the referee's whistled signalled an end to a goalless first half.

Despite "Shachar" head coach Ziv Arye making several second half changes to freshen up his ranks, the hosts dominated proceedings and in two five minute intervals shortly after the restart Kiryat Shmona's Josh Chindad and Ophir Takiar put their side two goals in front. It was not until five minutes from time that Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" were able to pull one back, a penalty taken by substitute Matan Hozaz, the midfielder's first of the season. The match ended 2-1 in the home side's favour and sent Maccabi's Under-19s home to face Hapoel Rishon Lezion at Kirayat Shalom in matchweek eight of the Youth Premier league, which will be played in three week's time.   

 

 

Despite a good display in the first half, Maccabi Tel Aviv trailed visitors Maccabi Netanya at the break. After the restart, Dor Jan, Amit Farhi and Yonatan Cohen turned the match around

On Saturday, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s had their character put to the test and came through with flying colours after a 3-1 victory over Maccabi Netanya at the Kiryat Shalom training ground in Tel Aviv. For the charges of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" head coach Ziv Arie, this was their third match in the space of just over a week and they finished it off in style after going 0-1 down in the first half. A spot kick by Dor Jan provided the equaliser just short of the hour mark and three minutes from time a goal from inside the area by fellow striker Amit Farhi put Maccabi Tel Aviv ahead. One minute into time added on, with the guests pressing forward for an equaliser of their own, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Yonatan Cohen found himself all alone with the ball in the Netanya half of the pitch and added to his side's margin of victory.

In the first half Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" dominated proceedings and with just two minutes on the clock striker Dor Jan bounced a shot towards the goal that found the Maccabi Netanya keeper Dean Gal ready. Six minutes later midfielder Matan Hozaz curled a shot towards the goal that was swept aside for a corner. With half an hour gone and "Shachar"'s domination failing to produce a goal, Maccabi Netanya managed to gain the ascendancy against the run of play. Itai Mentsour, unmarked on the right flank, crossed into the area and striker Eli Broush beat "Shachar" keeper Sahar Hason to fire home. Three minutes from the break a Matan Hozaz cross found midfielder Dan Glazer, but his header flew straight into the hands of the Netanya keeper.

The second half began with Netanya taking the upper hand and four minutes after the restart "Shachar" keeper Hason was once again called into action to stem the tide. Close to the hour mark "Shachar" striker Amit Farhi came off the substitute's bench and two minutes later was brought down in the area. "Shachar" captain Dor Jan stepped up to the spot and sent a ball into the right hand corner of the Netanya net to equalise for the home side. Five minutes later Netanya defender Muhmad Agabaria headed a throw-in onto "Shachar" keeper Hason's post but after that it was all Tel Aviv. Three minutes from time second-half substitute Yonatan Cohen completed the turnaround when he came down the left and sent in a cross that Amit Farhi put into the Netanya net on the slide. With five minutes of stoppage time added on, Dor Jan took advantage of Netanya's defensive exposure in their search for an equaliser and found Yonatan Cohen alone in front of goal who scored "Shachar"'s third in a 3-1 final.

For "Shachar", playing this morning in blue, this third season victory keeps them close to the top of the table with ten points. Next week Maccabi's Under-19s head north to play Hapoel Kiryat Shmona.

 

Head coach Ziv Arie's Under-19s caught up with the rest of the Youth Premier League on Tuesday, playing their fourth league match of the season against Beitar Tubruk. Eliel Peretz scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" added a point to their season's total during an intensive week that will have seen them playing three difficult matches. Between beating Ashdod FC last Saturday and hosting Maccabi Netanya this coming week-end, head coach Ziv Arie's Under-19s played a home tie on Tuesday against Beitar Tubruk. After a period of early probing from both sides it was the visitors who first went into action. Tubruk's Jeffrey Nissembaum nearly managed to take advantage of Maccabi keeper Sahar Hasson drifting off his line but missed from close range. At the other end, Maccabi striker Amit Farhi missed a golden opportunity after defender Ofek Barzani lifted him a clever ball inside the area. Just short of the half hour mark the referee disallowed a Maccabi goal for offside and the half ended with neither side on the scoreboard.

After the restart the pace of the match quickened and after attempts at both ends of the pitch it was the guests who were first rewarded for their efforts. The energetic Jeffrey Nissembaum crossed into the Maccabi area and "Shachar" defender Shachar Fiben failed in his attempts to deflect the ball to safety and sent it into his own net.  Beitar Tubruk tried to exploit the subsequent disarray in the Maccabi back four but the lads quickly regained their composure and fifteen minutes before time "Shachar" found an equaliser. Striker Sohil Armeli, having just come off the bench to replace Barzani, passed through to fellow substitute and striker Yonatan Cohen, whose strike off the woodwork was prodded into the Tubruk net by midfielder Eliel Peretz.

Throughout the rest of the match, "Shachar" continued to chase the winning goal but struggled to pose any real threat to the opposition defence and in the end had to settle for the one point. After five league games, head coach Ziv Arie's charges find themselves seventh in the table with seven points resulting from two wins, two losses and a draw. Next Saturday "Shachar" will return home for a second encounter with a Netanya based team, namesakes Maccabi Netanya, who last Saturday finished a tie with Maccabi Haifa in a goalless draw. You'll find live updates from the match on the Maccabi Tel Aviv official Facebook page.   

 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-19 head coach Arie Ziv's squad booked an important away win at Ashdod FC courtesy of midfielder Dor Pertz's goal seventeen minutes from time

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" travelled south to the port city of Ashdod for an encounter with the Under-19 club that were placed second in the table on the eve of matchweek five of the Youth Premier League. Maccabi came into the match following a 0-1 home loss to Hapoel Ramat Gan in matchweek four, while their opponents Ashdod FC recorded an impressive 1-5 away victory against Hapoel Ra'anana. And much like the parallel fixture between the senior teams in matchweek four of the Israeli Premier league, the first half of the match was played out largely in midfield without any real chances for either club.

The second half started in an entirely different fashion, with Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-19 head coach Arie Ziv's charges on the attack in search of the match winner. Midfielder Daniel Gretz's long-range effort was parried by Ashdod keeper Buchbinder and striker Sohil Armali's stirring run on goal down the left side also drew a save that prevented Maccabi from taking the lead. Seventeen minutes from time, "Shachar"'s endeavours finally bore fruit when Maccabi's Under-19 international midfielder Dor Peretz latched on to a cross and headed in to give Maccabi a fully justified 0-1 advantage. Two substitutions signalled Ashdod's intent to get back into the match but "Shachar" continued to display their superiority on the pitch and the match ended with three invaluable away points for Maccabi's Under-19s.

This coming Tuesday Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will meet Beitar Tubruk in a home encounter at Maccabi's Kiryat Shalom training ground.
 

Maccabi Under-19 midfielder Dor Peretz was among the goal scorers in the Israel national teams' emphatic 9-0 win over Lichtenstein in the last of their European championship qualifiers, earning them a ticket to the next phase of the competition

Israel's national Under-19 team, that included two of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s young stars – midfielder Dor Peretz and defender Shaun Goldberg – concluded their playoff matches for the European championships with a convincing 9-0 victory over Lichtenstein at Petah Tikva's "Moshava" Stadium. Having had mixed fortunes last week in their first two qualifying matches, a 2-0 victory over Italy and a 1-3 loss to Denmark, the young Israelis knew that only a victory over Lichtenstein would enable them to advance to the next, so-called "elite round" of the tournament. In the event their overwhelming triumph ensured their advance from the top spot in their group.

As in the previous two encounters, both Peretz and Goldberg opened for the Israeli Under-19s, with Peretz scoring the side's fourth goal of the afternoon just before half time with a blistering shot on the turn from just outside the area. Other scorers were Maccabi Haifa's Dor Hugy and Beitar Jerusalem's Avishai Cohen, who netted a brace each, in addition to individual efforts by Ramsey Sfuri and Muhmad Abu Al Hija (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Omer Danino (Maccabi Petah Tikva) and Eden Shamir (Hapoel Kiryat Shmona).

Two other Maccabi Tel Aviv players were included in head coach Eli Ohana's national Under-19 squad – defender Guy Aviv and midfielder Dan Glazer – but they did not appear in any of the three group stage matches. For Peretz and Goldberg these three group stage appearances were their first for the national side. In March of 2014 the national Under-19s will continue their efforts in the penultimate elite round of the European championship competition, where Israel will be drawn into a group of four, the winner of which will advance to the finals in Hungary next summer. 

*photographs courtesy of the Israel Football Federation

 

 

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-14 Team South played host to German namesakes "Maccabi Frankfurt" for a friendly match at the Kiryat Shalom training ground

Ten days before Maccabi Tel Aviv's third Europa League group stage match against Eintracht Frankfurt, a very special encounter took place today between another Maccabi Tel Aviv team and a very different team from Frankfurt: The children's team representing the Jewish Sports Federation of Germany, "Maccabi Frankfurt". Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-14 Team South played host as these two teams met for a friendly encounter at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. "Maccabi Frankfurt" has been in existence since 1965 and at present there are more than 20 teams in their youth division. This particular team's youngsters are from the same class of 1999 (with some additional players from the class of 2000) as Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-14s, and in addition to children from Frankfurt the squad boast players from Turkey, Ghana and South Korea.

At the end of an evenly weighted first half, the sides left the pitch drawn at one all, with Leon Grudshov scoring for Maccabi Tel Aviv. In the second half the charges of Maccabi Tel Aviv Under-14 South head coach Eyal Tsachi scored four more goals (Roi Alon, Niv Abutbul, Gal Porat, Amit Zolicha) to win the match 5-1. 

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s have a break this Saturday, the remaining youth teams continue with their league matches and the children's teams join the competitive arena

Due to the ongoing qualifying matches for the European championships, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s will have a break from league duty for the second Saturday in succession. Four Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" players – midfielders Dor Peretz (captain) and Dan Glazer and defenders Sean Goldberg and Guy Aviv – are on international duty with the rest of Israel Under-19 head coach Eli Ochana's squad. Maccabi's Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", are facing an intriguing encounter in their first derby of the 2013/14 season at home against Hapoel Tel Aviv in matchweek four of the Under-17 Premier League. Matchweek four of the national Under-16 league Southern District will see Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" playing at home at the Kiryat Shalom training ground against Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle. The Under-15s Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", will have this Saturday off but Team 2 will host Beitar Ramat Gan in round one of the State Cup for Under-15s.

Starting this week-end, the youth teams will be joined in league and Cup competition by Maccabi Tel Aviv's ten children's teams, as the first matches of this season's various children's leagues get underway on Saturday.

 Full fixture schedule for Saturday October 12^th:

team	opponent	venue	time	competition
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" – U19s	no match
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" – U17s	Hapoel Tel Aviv	Kiryat Shalom centre pitch	11am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" – U16s	Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle	Kiryat Shalom centre pitcxh	8.30am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" – U15 Team 1	no match
Maccabi Tel Aviv U15 Team 2	Beitar Ramat Gan	Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch	10.15am	State Cup
Maccabi Tel Aviv U14 South	Ironi Modi'in	Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch	8.30am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U14 North	Hapoel Hod Hasharon	Hod Hasharon	8.30am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U13 North	Hapoel Haifa	Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch	12.45pm	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U13 South	Gadna	Cherner Jaffa	9am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo": –  U12 North	Hapoel Ramat Hasharon	Kiryat Shalom synthetic pitch	2.30pm	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oz" – U12 South	Bnei Yehuda	Tikva neighbourhood synthetic pitch	10.15am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U11 North	Beitar Jerusalem	Jerusalem – Bayet VeGan upper synthetic pitch	11am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U11 South	Hapoel Ramat Gan	Ramat Amidar	10.30am	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U10 North	Beitar Tubruk	Tubruk	4.30pm	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv U10 South	Hapoel Rishon Lezion	Rishon Lezion "Under the Bridge"	8.30	league

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday will see four games played in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, with the Under-17s at home and the other three teams playing away

This Saturday's league matches in the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division will not include the Under-19s, who will be playing a friendly against the senior team of Hapoel Machane Yehuda. Their league match against Beitar Tubruk, scheduled for this week-end, has been postponed to October 22^nd because of the first of the Under-19 European Championship qualifying matches being played by the Israeli national Youth Team next week, starting on Tuesday October 8^th against Italy. Two days later it's the turn of Denmark and on Sunday October 13^th they'll face Lichtenstein. All the matches will be played at Petah Tikva's "Moshava" Stadium at 5pm in the afternoon. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" have four representatives in head coach Eli Ochana's national Under-19 squad: defenders Shaun Goldberg and Guy Aviv and midfielders Dan Glazer and Dor Peretz.

This is matchweek three for the four Youth Division teams who will be playing this Saturday. With the Youth Division's top side, the Under-19s, absent from this week-end's fixture schedule, the Under-17s will be hosting Hapoel Haifa at Maccabi's Kiryat Shalom training ground in matchweek three of the Under-17s Premier League. Having won their first two fixtures of the new season, Maccabi's Under-16s will head out for an away match at Section Nes Tsiona. The ten Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division children's teams who have yet to start their season will enter the cycle of play when their various league competitions kick off next Saturday.

Full fixture schedule for Saturday October 5^th:

team	opponent	day	time	venue	competition
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" – U19s	Machane Yehuda (senior team)	Friday	1.30pm	Centre pitch – Kiryat Shalom	friendly
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" – U17s	Hapoel Haifa	Saturday	11am	Centre pitch – Kiryat Shalom	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" – U16s	Section Nes Tsiona	Saturday	9am	Nes Tsiona	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" – U15 team 1	Gadna Tel Aviv	Saturday	11.15am	Gadna	league
Maccabi Tel Aviv – U15 team 2	Hapoel Ramat Hasharon	Saturday	12pm	Synthetic pitch – Ramat Hasharon	league

 

 

 

Despite continued pressure from the home side, a single goal by visitors Hapoel Ramat Gan handed Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" their second consecutive defeat

After last week's season opening loss to title holders Maccabi Haifa, the Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" squad hoped to return this Saturday to winning ways in a home tie against Hapoel Ramat Gan. From the very start of the match Maccabi's Under-19s hit up against a defensive bunker on the part of the visitors and struggled in the first half to create any good chances in front of goal. At the other end, in one of their few attacks of the half, Youth Premier League newcomers Ramat Gan scored a surprise goal on the half hour courtesy of Yaniv Mizrahi. "Shachar" endeavoured to get back into the match with strikes by midfielder Daniel Gretz and striker Dor Jan but the half-time whistle sent the two sides off with Maccabi still trailing 0-1.

After the restart, the game continued to move largely in one direction, that of the Ramat Gan goal. Head coach Ziv Arie's lads succeeded in creating chances but the equalising goal continued to escape them. Dor Jan drew a good save from the Ramat Gan keeper and soon after midfielder Dor Peretz headed a ball onto the crossbar that returned to striker Yonatan Cohen who struck wide from inside the area. Towards the end of the match Ramat Gan took advantage of Maccabi having so many players in attack and almost scored a second goal on the counter, but "Shachar" continued to press forward in the hope of scoring a dramatic equaliser. Dor Jan drew a second save and striker Amit Farhi was also stopped by the crossbar. After full time the score remained 0-1 in Ramat Gan's favour, handing Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" their first home loss of the season and a second defeat in three matches in the Youth Premier League so far. Next Saturday Maccabi's Under-19s will try to make amends in another home tie against Beitar Tubruk.