Maccabi Tel Aviv will host Hapoel Acre in the State Cup Round of 16 at the Netanya Stadium. The Leumit outfit surprised Cup holders Hapoel Haifa 1:0 last round to earn a date with the Yellow & Blue.

Maccabi Tel Aviv ended the Derby in a dramatic 1:1 draw this past Monday night and will look to get back onto the winning track. The Yellow & Blue moved into the Round of 16 with a 2:1 win over Beitar Jerusalem. Yonatan Cohen looked ahead to Thursday’s match:

“We can’t take any State Cup match lightly as we saw surprises yesterday and in other rounds. Anyone who takes their foot off the gas in a Cup match will be punished. Anything can happen in this type of match but we will come prepared to win the game and advance to the next round.”

The thrill of victory:
“There wasn’t a lot of time since the last match but that’s good for us as we didn’t defeat Hapoel. When we don’t win we really miss out on experiencing the victory. We are going into tomorrow’s match to win.”

Exciting competition:
“The State Cup is an exciting competition and many don’t have the opportunity to win it but we will go into the contest focused and ready to go to record the win.”

You know that old coat that’s been sitting in your closet for the past number of years? Or that sweater that hasn’t seen the light of day and has become an integral part of your cupboard? Now it’s time to give away the old and donate for a worthwhile cause.

After the huge success the past couple of seasons, the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation will be holding their Third Annual Winter Clothing Drive together with “HaBoydem” with one goal in mind, supporting the community.

Beginning today, Tuesday, until the end of January fans may contribute a coat, sweater or sweatshirt at the donation points at the Official Store at Kiryat Shalom and merchandise stands around the stadium and at the next couple of Maccabi matches against Hapoel Acre on Thursday and Beitar Jerusalem on Monday January 21st.

Did you donate an article of clothing? You not only did a good deed but we’ll give you 30% off on the Maccabi Winter Collection.

Over the last two seasons, the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation held a most successful winter clothing drive in conjunction with HaBoydem as over 5,000 items including coats, sweatshirts and sweaters were donated to support the community. The fans came out in full force to help make this project a winner. Let’s have a repeat performance again this season!

HaBoydem isn’t just a regular clothing store but one whose goal is to create self-sustaining second hand clothing stores which is serviced by people with disabilities who are being trained and empowered to maximize their potential, and integrate back into the competitive workplace.

Maccabi Tel Aviv hosts Beitar Jerusalem on Monday January 21st at 21:00 in Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika Matchday 19 action at the Netanya Stadium. Tickets are on sale now via the Leaan Website, the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv and via Telephone *8780.

You may purchase tickets on the Leaan Website by using the User ID and password. If you do know one or both of those details please send an email to support@leaan.co.il.
Tickets will be sold to people who have purchased Maccabi tickets in the past. Please complete the transaction via the Leaan Website with your User ID and password that has been used in the past for the club’s matches.

Ticket sales are for Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters only. Supporters from the opposing team who enter the Maccabi Tel Aviv fan stands will be ejected from stadium and the ticket price will not be refunded.
Home printing is available
Tickets will not be on sale at the Stadium box offices on Matchday

Ticket Prices
Leaan Ticket Office
Youth/Soldier/Women – (Sections 108-109, 208-209 only) – 50 NIS
Lower West Stand – (Sections 108-109, 208-209 only) – 100 NIS
Upper West Stand – (Sections 204-207) – 110 NIS
Lower East Stand – 110 NIS
E+ – 250 NIS
Silver Section – 450 NIS

Phone/Leaan Website
Youth/Soldier/Women – (Sections 108-109, 208-209 only) – 55 NIS
Lower West Stand – (Sections 108-109, 208-209 only) – 105 NIS
Upper West Stand – (Sections 204-207) – 115 NIS
Lower East Stand – 115 NIS
E+ – 255 NIS
Silver Section – 455 NIS

Youth/Soldier/Women tickets are available for purchase by telephone only after identification.

Ticket Collection
Tickets may be collected at the Leaan Ticket Office located at 42 Frishman Street, Tel Aviv between Sunday-Thursday 09:00-19:00, Friday 09:00-13:30.
Tickets may be collected on Matchday at the Stadium ticket windows beginning 3 hours prior to the match until 45 minutes after the start of the match.

Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club bows its head on the passing of Avraham Bendori. The legendary keeper passed away today, Tuesday at the age of 90 and is considered to be one of the greatest all-time keepers in Israeli football and in particular for Maccabi. The funeral will be held today at 17:00 at the Yarkon Cemetery.

Avraham Bendori is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers not only in the history of Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, but in the history of Israeli football as a whole. He began his career as a senior player at Maccabi aged 18 in 1946 and in his very first season won his first title, the Israel Football Association (IFA) Cup, after a replay victory over Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion. He repeated the feat the following season in a final against Beitar Tel Aviv, remembered in particular for his role in the early conclusion of the match. Beitar supporters poured out onto the pitch in protest at a spot kick they alleged had been deflected by Bendori after it had crossed the line, and as a result the match was suspended five minutes before time.

Having arrived at the club before the establishment of the State of Israel, Bendori was forced to part company with his teammates to join the army during the War for Independence in 1948. He suffered only minor injuries and was thus able to quickly rejoin the club, even making his maiden appearance in goal for the national team in 1948, a match against the U.S.A. that was played in New York. Bendori conceded three goals in a 3-1 loss, but even a defeat could not damage the pride of players of the first national side to play an international after Israel’s achieving independent statehood. In all, Bendori was capped seven times for his country, including matches against Iran and Singapore in the qualifying rounds for the Asia Cup in 1958.

Bendori played thirteen years, from 1946 to 1959, in a Maccabi jersey, and as the unchallenged occupant of the Maccabi Tel Aviv goal in those years he was also an indispensable part of the “Golden Age” squad of the 1950’s. His list of titles as Maccabi goalkeeper is particularly impressive: Five national championships (’47, ’50, ’52, ’54, ’56, ’58) and six IFA State Cups (’46, ’47, ’54, ’55, ’58). After retiring from active play Bendori enjoyed a second career in the coaching field and as manager of the Israeli national team.

Avi Rikan, the Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder summed up the 1:1 Derby draw on Matchday 18 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“I can’t really explain what happened at that moment as there are a lot of emotions and it’s too bad it resulted in something a bit more, but it wasn’t anything extra special.”

Character of a Derby:
“I received a yellow card and both teams were involved in the pushing and shoving but that is the character of Derby matches. I don’t feel that it’s anything more than just sportsmanship and nothing more than that.”

Continuing to learn:
“It’s clear that we can’t always play every single match with the same quality and there are going to be some matches like we had today. We are very strong and we come into every game looking to win, so on days where we aren’t at our best we have to know how to tactically and professionally take the points. Unfortunately, we gave up a goal near the end of the match and we have to learn from this as we want to play our best throughout the season.”

Looking ahead:
“We always give everything we have and we did so in both league Derbies as we want to always play our best. Our fans came out and gave us their incredible support. Everything is ok and its too bad that we drew both Derbies but we have a long season with many matches left and many goals in front of us. We have to look ahead to the next match which is already on Thursday.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Head Coach summed up his squad’s 1:1 draw at Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Moshava Stadium:

“We had a 1:0 lead in first half and it was a 50/50 game. We played the last 15 minutes with 10 men and we took one point and we continue.”

Taking a point:
“Maccabi wants to win the game and we tried to score a goal in the second half but we had an opponent who made it difficult. We had chances but we missed them and they scored near the end of the game. A lot of times we have scored near the end of the game but this is football. One point is not bad.”

About the referee’s decision to give Itay Shechter a red card:
“I will never speak about the referees.”

Not winning a league Derby this season:
“We have a lot of Derbies here.”

Hapoel Acre State Cup match coming up:
“Next game is in 3 days and it’s another competition. We have to prepare for this game and we have had a number of games a few weeks ago as well.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv drew 1:1 in the Derby at the Moshava Stadium. Chico Ofoedu scored for the Yellow & Blue in the first half while Emmanuel Boateng found the equalizer in the 88’. Itay Shechter was issued a red card in the 79’ reducing Maccabi to ten-men as the Reds took advantage of the extra player to split the points.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini, Enric Saborit, Dor Peretz, Dan Glezer, Dor Micha, Omer Atzili, Yonatan Cohen, Chico Ofoedu.

Bench: Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Maor Kandil, Avi Rikan, Ruslan Barsky, Eliran Atar, Itay Shechter.

First Half
After a quiet first ten minutes, Atzili’s chance was blocked by the the Red’s defense while Ahmed Abed’s attempt at the other end of the pitch missed the target. In the 21’ Atzili and Saborit’s give and go resulted in the latter skying the ball over the goal while a minute later Ramzi Safuri’s opportunity from long distance cleared the bar by Rajko’s goal.

In the 24’ Dasa gave Micha a terrific ball but the midfielder just missed the target and two minutes later Dasa’s through ball intended for Atzili was collected by Reds keeper Robi Levkovich. Roie Zikri had a huge chance for Hapoel in the 31’ minute but Saborit stopped the threat while a minute later Rajkovic made a tremendous save off an Edi Gotliv opportunity as Maccabi went downfield and scored to break the deadlock.

Atzili sent a long pass to Micha on the right side who crossed the ball to Cohen in the box but his attempt was collected by Ofoedu who pounded the ball by Levkovich from in close to give the Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Zikri had the first chance of the half but his effort from 20 meters went out while three minutes later, Atzili’s cross to Glezer was headed over the bar. Safuri had a chance near the box, but Piven cleared the ball to safety in the 57’. Avi Rikan was inserted in favor of Cohen in the 60’ as Coach Ivic made his first substitution of the match.

Itay Shechter was introduced for goal scorer Ofoedu in the 74’ for Maccabi and a minute later Claudemir’s corner kick hit the bar as Hapoel came close to finding the equalizer. In the 77’ Peretz’s long distance attempt missed the target and two minutes later Shechter was shown red and Rikan received a yellow card for a gathering of the clan.

Claudemir’s 17 meter strike went wide of the goal in the 83’ but five minutes later Emmanuel Boateng’s shot beat Rajkovic as Hapoel found the equalizer, 1:1. Eliran Atar came on for Atzili in the 89’ and Claudemir’s attempt went out minute later.