Three second-half goals made it two in a row for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"

After their 3-0 victory over Hapoel Kfar Saba in last week, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" travelled to the capital to face Beitar Jerusalem and came away with the same fine result. An uneventful first half left the two teams goalless but the second half proved to be a different story altogether. Maccabi were by far the sharper of the two sides after the restart and netted three goals courtesy of midfielders Sharon Ziso and substitute Guy Cohen, who scored a brace.

Despite watching the distance between themselves and league leaders Maccabi Haifa increase somewhat after their last away loss to Beitar Tubruk, head coach Amir Turgeman's lads this time around proved once again that they haven't lost their winning touch. It began with the victory last week at Hapoel Kfar Saba and continued today at Beitar Jerusalem's Bayit Vegan sports complex. But in contrast to last week, when "Shachar" scored at the beginning of the match, this week the going in the first half was much harder with both sides cancelling one another out and leaving the match goalless at halftime.

After the restart it was the side of head coach Amir Turgeman that opened briskly and dictated events on the pitch. With just four minutes gone, midfielder Sharon Ziso rose to meet a cross from defender Dean Akafi and headed it over the opposing goalkeeper into the net. After opening their 1-0 lead, Maccabi continued to dominate and create chances and it was second half substitute Guy Cohen who translated that effort into additional goals. With 15 minutes left on the clock he took advantage of a wayward pass by Beitar's goalkeeper and struck over his head into the net to double Maccabi's lead. Five minutes later Cohen again exploited a defensive error on the part of the hosts and scored his second goal of the match, his eighth of the season.

Next week Maccabi's under 19s will host Hapoel Beer Sheva in an attempt to extend their run of victories to three.

Line-up: Gal Tuvali, Oliver Spring, Daniel Shvarzboim, Osher Abu, Shaun Goldberg, Yarden Pinto, Dor Buzaglo, Sharon Ziso, Dean Akafi, Daniel Gretz, Dor Jan   

 

Goals by Dor Jan, Dean Akafi And Osher Abu polished off Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar"'s 3-0 win over Hapoel Kfar Saba

Three consecutive matches without a win were too much for Maccabi's Under-19s, who put on a brilliant display to breeze past Hapoel Kfar Saba 3-0 at the Kiryat Shalom training ground on Saturday. After two draws and a loss that put yet more space between them and the top of the national Under-19 Premiere League, Amir Turgeman's lads returned to their winning ways. Dor Jan found the net in the first half, Dean Akafi and Osher Abu scored in the second to give the Under-19s their first win in four matches.

It was that very run of winless form that saw Maccabi Tel Aviv open this match in attacking mode. After a number of chances in front of goal in the opening moments of the match, "Shachar" were already on the scoreboard in the fourth minute when Dor Jan poked in a Kfar Saba goalkeeper's deflection of Sharon Ziso's first attempt on goal. For "Shachar"'s leading scorer Jan it was his eighth goal of the season. The whole of the first half saw Maccabi "Shachar" in control as they looked for a second. Dor Jan came close to doubling both his and the team's total, while Osher Abu and Dean Akafi also tried their luck.

The second half started much as the first had ended, with most if not all the play going in the direction of the Hapoel Kfar Saba goal. Eight minutes after the restart Dean Akafi gathered a long ball down the left, cut into the area and sent the ball flying into the top of the Kfar Saba net to double Maccabi's advantage and register his first goal of the season. "Shachar" defender Osher Abu, who spent the last two seasons with the team and just returned after half a season's absence, was playing in just his second match of the season and his first in the starting line-up. But he too celebrated his first goal of the season fifteen minutes from time when he joined the offence for a corner kick and headed in Daniel Gretz's cross.

And so it stayed, 3-0, till the final whistle, giving Amir Turgeman and his charges three valuable points and their first clean sheet in three matches. Maccabi "Shachar" stay in fourth place, one point behind Bnei Yehuda in second. Next week they'll face Beitar Jerusalem in a tough match in the capital.

Line-up: Gal Tovli, Yarden Pinto, Osher Abu, Daniel Schwartzbaum, Shaun Goldberg, Roei Yair, Dor Buzaglo, Daniel Gretz, Dean Akafi, Sharon Ziso, Dor Jan  

 

A brace by Guy Cohen helped Mta's Under-19s to their seventh victory of the season with 2-1 win over F.C. Ashdod

After a week-long break,  Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" return to league duties on Saturday, beating Ashdod FC at home.  Guy Cohen scored a goal in each half and broke the temporary 1-1 deadlock that existed at halftime.  The game, which was scheduled to take place in Ashdod, was relocated to Maccabi's Kiryat Shalom training ground after the teams exchanged their home and away fixtures.  Head coach Amir Turjeman's charges returned to winning ways after losing to Bnei Yehuda in the previous matchweek, reducing their distance from the top of the national Under-19 Premier League to nine points.

The loss to Bnei Yehuda ended a three-game run of wins for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", as they looked to return to winning ways again against Ashdod FC.  The first half was dominated by "Shachar", who went on the attack with Dor Jan, Guy Cohen and Sharon Zisso threatening the visitor's goal. Just under ten minutes from the break an accurate long ball by Sean Goldberg found Guy Cohen and he found space to head the ball in for his third goal of the season.  Seconds before halftime the visitors found the equaliser, against the run of play.  Ashdod's Or Inbrum cut into the area from the flanks and let fly with an accurate shot that sailed into the corner of the Maccabi net.

Maccabi tried to regain the advantage at the beginning of the second half and both Dor Jan, wearing the captain's band, and Sharon Zisso nearly scored.  Draws are not very popular among the Maccabi Tel Aviv players, who have only finished one game in that fashion during the season so far, and they had no intention to end today's game without finding a winner.  Twenty minutes from time Ashdod's goalkeeper, Omer Aviram, could only punch away a shot by Sharon Zisso and Guy Cohen was there to take the reflection and score his second.  The Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder had an opportunity to complete a hat-trick just a few minutes later, but he only managed to hit the post.

Maccabi Haifa's 2-2 derby draw enabled "Shachar" to reduce their distance from the national Under-19 Premier league leaders to nine points. Next week Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will play Hapoel Jerusalem, currently bottom in the table.

Under-19 Premier League Table

Fixtures & Results 

Lineup: Gal Tubaly, Shahar Piven, Mansour Amash, Daniel Schwartzboim, Sean Goldberg, Roei Yair, Tamir Abrahamian, Sharon Zisso, Daniel Gertz, Guy Cohen, Dor Jan.

 

A third consecutive victory for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar". Midfielder Daniel Gretz scored the only goal of the game ten minutes into the match

After two consecutive victories that put Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" back on track, Maccabi's Under-19s visited Kiryat Haim training ground for a game against Hapoel Haifa.  Head coach Amir Turgeman's charges, who recovered from three consecutive losses with two 1-0 wins, were looking to extend their unbeaten run in this match against league leaders Hapoel Haifa.  Their mission today was not expected to be easy.  Hapoel Haifa's Under-19s had lost only once in their eight league matches and have scored 24 goals.  Last season, Kiryat Haim could have been the venue of Maccabi's championship match, but they lost and the celebrations had to be postponed.  

In the event the match started out well for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" with an early goal by midfielder Daniel Gretz just after the ten-minute mark, his second of the season and first since matchweek 1. Having significantly improved their line of defence in the past two matches, Maccabi managed to hold off the league's second best attack and held on to this slim advantage till the half-time whistle.

After the restart Maccabi continued to display an uncompromising defensive game while looking for a second goal that would guarantee their victory.  Striker Dor Jan sought his fifth goal of the season, but failed to get past the Hapoel Haifa goalkeeper. At the other end, Maccabi keeper Gal Tuvali withstood the scoring attempts by Haifa's red half and the whistle ending the game was a signal for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" players to celebrate their third consecutive win by a score of 0-1. This win means three important points for the team and puts them back in the running for the top spot in the table.  This was only Hapoel Haifa's second loss of the season, putting them level on points with "Shachar" with a game in hand.

Next week, Maccabi's Under-19s will return to Kiryat Shalom training ground to host Bnei Yehuda in their first home encounter with spectators since the prohibition imposed as a result of the disruptive events that followed the derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar": Gal Tuvali, Daniel Levy, Mansur Amash, Rotem Buskila, Sean Goldberg, Dor Buzaglo, Dor Peretz, Tamir Abrahamian, Daniel Gretz, Guy Cohen, Dor Jan

 

 

 

 

Midfielder Guy Cohen scored the only goal of the match against Maccabi Petach Tikvah to give Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s their second consecutive victory

After a break of three weeks for the reseeding of the pitches, the national Under-19 Premier League returned to action today, and with it Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar". Maccabi's Under-19s hosted Maccabi Petach Tikva in the second and final match without spectators, the result of disciplinary measures taken after the hard-fought but significant 1-0 victory over Hapoel in the Tel Aviv derby. Midfielder Guy Cohen scored the match's only goal in the first half with an assist from fellow midfielder Daniel Gretz. This second consecutive league victory, and first home win after two losses at the Kiryat Shalom training gound, brings Maccabi Tel Aviv within touching distance of the top of the league table.

The first half saw Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" dominate the proceedings, maintaining possession and pressing their advantage in front of goal. Their first real opportunity came from Guy Cohen with a header the Petach Tikva goalkeeper Yugav Ben Nun saved admirably. A minute later the midfielder  renewed his intentions with a smart pass from Daniel Gretz that he smashed into the net for the first goal of the match and his second of the season. Cohen continued his goal threatening efforts throughout the first half but at the half-time whistle the score remained 1-0 in Maccabi Tel Aviv's favour.

In the second half, the charges of head coach Amir Turgeman continued to display resolve in defence while still probing for additional goals at the other end. Striker Dor Jan, who scored in the Under-19s last match, was looking for his fifth goal of the season but his two opportunities met stiff resistance from the Petach Tikvah keeper. Midfielder Asaf Madar, who came in off the bench in the second half, also tested Ben Nun with his threatening efforts. Meanwhile, Maccabi Petach Tikvah's only real chance of the match came in the dying moments but the "Shachar" goalkeeper Sahar Hason made an excellent save of Otman Grava's attempt to equalise.

Though not scoring as freely as in the earlier stages of the season, the MTA Under-19's showed here signs of recovery from a run of poor form with this second consecutive 1-0 victory. In their next fixture Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be playing away to Hapoel Haifa, a strong side with one of the two best attacking records in the Under-19 Premier League.

Line-up: Sahar Hason, Rotem Buskila, Mansour Amash, Daniel Levi, Shaun Goldberg, Tamir Abrahamian, Daniel Gretz, Yarden Pinto, Amit Farhi, Guy Cohen, Dor Jan 

 

Dor Jan scored from the penalty spot as MTA's U19s got their first win in four matches

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" Saturday visited Ironi Kiryat Shmona, placed second in the national Under-19 Premier League table, in an attempt to recover from a run of three consecutive losses. Attaining victory at Kiryat Shmona was not expected to be easy but after a close and difficult game Maccabi's Under-19s returned south with three important points. Striker Dor Jan scored the only goal of the game in the last minute of the first half.  Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" earned their first clean sheet of the season.

The players started the game with a strong defensive line designed to protect their goal, breached five times by Hapoel Rishon Lezion last week.  Last season the Kiryat Shmona facilities proved to favour Maccabi's Under-19s, where they won 1-4 with Dor Jan scoring one of the goals. Jan, who has already scored three goals this season, was given the opportunity to add more to his total when Maccabi were awarded a penalty just before the break. The forward calmly scored his first goal since matchweek 3, taking his team into half-time with a 0-1 lead.

In the second half Maccabi continued playing a composed defensive game but still carried on with efforts to increase their lead despite the host's attempt to equalise at the other end. By the time the second half had ended, neither team had succeeded in finding the net and Dor Jan's goal at the end of the first half proved the match winner, the fourth victory this season for the Under-19s. They've now taken 13 points from eight matches and are once again close to the top of the table. This victory also sends head coach Amir Turjeman and his team into their break (for pitch reseeding) in good spirits. They are expected to return on November 24th, when Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will host Maccabi Petach Tikva.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar": Sahar Hasson, Rotem Buskila, Daniel Levy, Mansur Amash, Shawn Goldberg, Yarden Pinto, Dor Peretz, Tamir Avrahamian, Daniel Gertz, Guy Cohen, Dor Jan

 

 

A bad run of results continues for MTA's U19s with a 2-5 defeat to Hapoel Rishon Lezion

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" hosted Hapoel Rishon Lezion in matchweek 7 of the national Under-19 Premier League and suffered their third consecutive loss 2-5.  Maccabi hoped to get back on track after one draw and two losses in their three preceding fixtures, but failed to prevent yet another defeat.  The visitors started out strong and by half-time already lead 1-4, with midfielder Guy Cohen Maccabi's only goalscorer.  Despite a slight improvement in their second-half performance, a lone goal by Shawn Goldberg was all Maccabi could muster and the visitors added one of their own toward the end of the match to seal an unflattering 2-5 result.

The opening moments of the game seemed to conform to what was predicted to be a balanced affair between the two sides. But ten minutes into the match the delicate balance was broken by Rishon's Yaron Abaliav, whose long-range strike left Maccabi keeper Gal Tovali no chance and handed Hapoel Rishon Lezion a one-goal advantage.  Six minutes later the score was already 0-3 for the visitors:  Two successful spot kicks by Rishon's Kobi Mor fizzed past Gal Tovali. To make matters worse Maccabi's Dean Akafi was shown a red card after an altercation with the referee and head coach Amir Turjeman was forced to use one of his substitutions to send on Sahar Hason to replace an injured Gal Tovali. Just past the half hour mark "Shachar" midfielder Guy Cohen managed to reduce the deficit to 1-3, but the hope of getting back into the game was quashed just one minute later when Rishon's Hen Fitussi scored a goal that took the visitors into the break leading 1-4.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's players improved slightly in the second half, exerting more pressure on Hapoel Rishon Lezion's goalkeeper Hen Asael.  Strikers Gael Margulies, in his first game in the Under-19 first eleven this season, and Dor Jan tried but failed to find the net.  A goal was scored by defender Shawn Goldberg in his debut appearance this season, just five minutes after entering the game as a substitute. But despite their control on the pitch, Maccabi were unable to find the net and the final goal of the game was scored by the visitors from Rishon Lezion. A deflection by Sahar Hasson and a clearance off the line by defender Shachar Piven proved insufficient and in a third attempt, visiting defender Eldar Barda finally put the ball in the net. 

At the end of the game with Hapoel Rishon Lezion the score stood 2-5, marking a third consecutive loss for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar", who will set out for a difficult away game next Saturday against Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

 

Owing to derby crowd disturbances, Maccabi Tel Aviv's U19s incur fine and two-match spectator ban

This morning (Thursday) the disciplinary court of the Israeli Football Association turned their attention to the crowd disturbances that occurred two weeks ago at the Kiryat Shalom derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s and their counterparts from municipal rival Hapoel Tel Aviv. As a result of their deliberations, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will be fined NIS 5000 and play their next two home matches without spectators. "Shachar"'s next match is an away tie against Hapoel Ramat Hasharon, followed by a home encounter against Hapoel Rishon Lezion. 

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" suffered their first loss of the season in the derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv

After dropping their first points in Beer Sheva last week, MTA Under-19 head coach Amir Turjeman's players returned to the Kiryat Shalom training ground in an attempt to maintain a perfect home record in the intriguing derby against arch-rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv.  Although the two sides came into the match separated by a huge gap in the table, the final score proved that where derby ties are concerned, it isn't always ranking that matters.  A goal either side of half time by Amit Amzaleg meant that 12^th placed Hapoel Tel Aviv dealt Maccabi Tel Aviv their first loss of the season.

The first half provided little in the way of attractive football and although Maccabi retained the lion's share of possession, it was the visitors who managed to create the first goal.  Just after the half hour mark a penalty was awarded to Hapoel Tel Aviv and Amit Amzaleg smashed a powerful ball into the corner of the Maccabi net to give his side a one-goal advantage. After falling behind, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" turned up the tempo and began threatening the Hapoel goal.  First striker Amit Farhi saw his shot saved by Hapoel keeper Itzik Mizrahi and five minutes to the interval a dangerous ball by Guy Cohen was pushed away by the goalkeeper at a stretch.  A very weak half ended with a 0-1 advantage for Hapoel Tel Aviv.

After the restart most of the action took place in the Hapoel Tel Aviv half.  Maccabi laboured to penetrate the strong Hapoel defence and it was only midway through the half that Guy Cohen managed to come close, only to miss a good opportunity from close range.  Maccabi head coach Amir Turjeman introduced all of his attacking options, but to no avail.  Daniel Gretz was next in line to threaten the goal toward the end with a shot from inside the penalty area that strayed wide.  The Maccabi pressure continued to go unrewarded and Hapoel scored their second goal on the break in injury time, Amit Amzaleg settling the scoring with his second goal. 0-2 to Hapoel Tel Aviv and "Shachar"'s first loss of the season after three wins and a draw. 

There will be no games this Saturday in the national Under-19 Premier League and in two weeks' time "Shachar" will play away at Ironi Ramat HaSharon.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar": Gal Tovali, Itam Shamai (Rotem Buskila 80'), Daniel Levi (Sharon Zisso 60'), Shachar Piven, Dean Akafi, David Aviv (Dor Peretz 49'), Daniel Gretz, Guy Cohen, Assaf Madar (Almog Ohayon 73'), Amit Farhi (Sagiv Yehezkel 46'), Dor Jan.

 

 

 

Assaf Madar's second half goal was not enough for Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s to maintain their perfect season 2012/13 record

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" played at Vasermil Stadium today against Hapoel Beer Sheva, a match that finished in a 1-1 draw.  Assaf Madar headed Maccabi in front at the beginning of the second half, but the hosts' equaliser 5 minutes from time meant the two sides shared the points.  Maccabi came into the tie in matchweek 4 of the Under-19 Premier League with a perfect record from the first three matches, but their run has now been interrupted as they dropped their first points of the new season.

The Under-19 teams met in the same stadium that will host the senior teams of both clubs in just two days time. Head coach Amir Turjeman and his players have recent and pleasant memories of Vasermil, where last season they officially guaranteed themselves their second consecutive Under-19 Premier League championship.  In that championship match they beat Hapoel Beer Sheva 3-0, but today the going was a bit more difficult.  Unlike last week's game against Beitar Jerusalem, where Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" fell behind twice, the Under-19s today came out in attack with a view to taking the lead early on. Less than ten minutes into the match they had an excellent opportunity to do just that when they were awarded a penalty, but striker Dor Jan's spot kick was saved leaving the teams goalless.

The first half continued uneventfully and it ended without any goals.  The hot weather in Beer Sheva did not make it easy on the two teams, but Amir Turjeman's lads continued to attack, looking for a breakthrough.  Just before the hour mark, last week's hero Assaf Madar, who scored a brace in the final minutes against Beitar Jerusalem, came into action.  The midfielder rose for a corner delivered by Guy Cohen and headed in to put Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" in front.  For Madar, who returned to Maccabi Tel Aviv this summer after being on loan at Hapoel Ra'anana last season, this was his third goal in two games.

Unfortunately for Maccabi, Madar's goal was not enough for them to snatch their fourth consecutive win after Hapoel Beer Sheva levelled the score five minutes from time, settling the final score at 1-1.  The Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" squad will try to get back to their winning ways next Saturday, as they host Hapoel Tel Aviv in the first intriguing Tel Aviv derby of the new season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" squad: Gal Tovali, Itam Shamai, Daniel Levy, Mantzur Amash, Dean Akafi, David Aviv, Dor Peretz, Daniel Gertz, Amit Farhi, Assaf Madar and Dor Jan.