Category: News

Ivic: “The players fought from the beginning to the end”

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Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach summed up his side’s 2:1 comeback victory over Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 10 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika and also looked ahead to the upcoming break:

ולדימיר איביץ’ לאחר הניצחון על קרית שמונה

“Kiryat Shemona played well and are in the 4th place. This is their first home loss. I told my players congratulations because they fought from the beginning to the end. It was tough to play as the grass wasn’t in good shape. It was a tough game but we won and we will continue on. We have to rest and then work hard for the next game.”

The break:
“We aren’t sad about the break as we started our season on June 17th and the players need to rest and spend time with their families. When they come back we have a lot of work to continue to improve.”

About Omer Atzily’s performance:
“This is how we want him to play, He showed today and the previous game that he plays hard and he’s a very important player for us.”

Can anyone stop Maccabi?
“We want to wok hard and improve every game and play the next games even better. This game will be a lesson as we came back to win. The last ten minutes we went back which is something that we don’t want to do, but I understand as we wanted the victory before the break.”

Comeback: Atzily scores two in Maccabi’s 2:1 win at Kiryat Shemona

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Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Kiryat Shemona 2:1 and went into the break with a win and a 7 point first place lead over Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Hadera. Yoel Abuhatzeira scored for the host’s in the 7’ to give Kiryat Shemona a 1:0 lead but Atzily’s free kick equalizer sent the side’s into half-time even at 1:1. However, Atzilly converted a 63’ Kiryat Shemona handball in the box fro a 2:1 victory.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Enric Saborit, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini (C), Maor Kandil, Dor Peretz, Dan Glazer, Dor Micha, Avi Rikan, Omer Atzily, Itay Shechter.

Available on the bench were keeper Haviv Ohayon, Jair Amador, Eli Dasa, Ruslan Barsky, Chico Ofoedu, Aaron Schoenfeld and Eliran Atar.

First Half
Maccabi began the match pressing Kiryat Shemona and in the 1’ Atzily had a chance but missed the goal while three minutes later Shechter had an opportunity from 5 meters out thanks to a pass by Atzily but came up short as the keeper made the save. Saborit had a bicycle kick attempt on a rebound soon thereafter but his ball went over the bar.

However, after all of the Maccabi pressure, Kiryat Shemona took a 1:0 lead in the 7’ as Yoel Abuhatzeira scored off a counter thanks to Valon Ahmedi cross into the box. In the 15’ Maccabi came close to drawing even when Rikan hit the post and Atzily’s rebound chance from 5 meters out was just deflected by a defender and sent out for a corner.

Finally in the 38’ the Yellow & Blue pressure paid off as Atzily put home a 17 meter free kick that went off the right post and into the Kiryat Shemona goal as the side’s went into the break knotted up at 1:1.

Second Half
In the 51’ Ivic made his first substitute as Eli Dasa came on for Kandil who sported a yellow card that he had been issued late in the first half while Aaron Schoenfeld entered the contest in the 63’ in favor of Rikan.

Just after Schoenfeld was introduced, Eden Shamir committed a hand ball off a Peretz header and Atzily converted the penalty kick for Maccabi from 11 meters to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:1 lead. The goal was #7’s fifth league marker of the season.

Shechter had a chance to add to the lead in get 83’ as did Schoenfeld in the 84’ and Peretz in the 88’ but they couldn’t find the back of the goal as Maccabi took the 2:1 win and the three points home back to Tel Aviv.

Stats Speak: Maccabi’s most difficult pitch

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To date there have been 30 league matches between the clubs. The record: 15 Maccabi wins, 7 draws and 8 Kiryat Shemona wins. Goal differential: 52:36 in favor of Maccabi

In 14 away matches Maccabi’s record is: 4 wins, 4 draws and 6 losses. Goal differential: 16:22 in favor of Kiryat Shemona.

Maccabi has only a 38% success rate in away contests at Kiryat Shemona which is the lowest of 23 clubs that Maccabi has played 10 or more games against away from home.

The Yellow & Blue have won their last two away matches against Kiryat Shemona (2:1 twice – last season at Acre and the year before in Kiryat Shemona)

Maccabi’s last loss against Kiryat Shemona took place four years ago in November 2014 – 1:2 Kiryat Shemona.

Since then, the clubs have played 9 games what Maccabi winning 6 and drawing 3. The Yellow & Blue have won the last five contests between the two.

The biggest win at Kiryat Shemona was 3:1 in 2012/13. The goal scorers: Monas Dabbur, Rada Prica, Eran Zahavi.

The goal scoring leader against Kiryat Shemona is Eran Zahavi with 12 goals. Second: Vidar Kjartansson with 6 goals, third: Eliran Atar who’s scored 5 goals.

The first official away match at Kiryat Shemona was in the 1975/76 Israel State Cup Round of 16. Kiryat Shemona who at the time we’re in Ligat Alef North (second division) knocked out Bnei Yehuda in the first round and took Maccabi to penalties which the Yellow & Blue finally won 3:1.

The first league match against Kiryat Shemona took place in October 2007 as they fell 0:1. The Maccabi right defensive back was Yuval Shpungin who today plays for Kiryat Shemona. The Kiryat Shemona right back as Barak Bachar who today is the Head Coach of Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Maccabi has won on Matchday 10 over the past five seasons.

Should Maccabi win today they will have a 7-point lead over second place on Matchday 10. Only once before has there been such a big gap between the top two places on the table – 2005/06, when Maccabi Haifa led the league by ten points on Matchday 10 over second place Bnei Yehuda.

Final Preparations: Maccabi heads to Kiryat Shemona ahead of the break

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Maccabi Tel Aviv will look to continue their positive momentum this evening, Sunday (20:15) when they travel north to Kiryat Shemona on Matchday 10 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Following the match, the league will go on a 3-week international and pitch winterization break.

בעיטות, גולים והצלות. קליפ הוידאו מאימון הבוקר


Vladimir Ivic’s squad has been playing quality football and sit atop the table as they head to the Galilee. The Yellow & Blue have 23 points and hold a 4 point lead over Bnei Yehuda and Hapoel Hadera who find themselves in second and third places respectively. In addition, Maccabi enters the match with four wins in a row.

Kiryat Shemona are also playing quality football as Haim Silvas’s side have won their last two match’s and are currently in fourth place with 15 points. It would be prudent to pay attention to Albanian midfielder Valon Ahmedi who arrived from Slovenian side Maribor as he’s had a great start to the season with 4 assists so far their campaign.

Kiryat Shemona features one of the most difficult pitches for Maccabi. In their past five leafs matches between the teams in which Kiryat Shemona has hosted (including last season’s game that was played in Acre) Maccabi has won twice, drawn twice and lost once.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic spoke about the match: “The goal is to take 3 points. I agree that it will be a difficult match against a quality team. They have given up only 5 goals and that says that they are a serious team. The pitch may be smaller than usual and we are expecting a tough match and we’ve been preparing all week for this. We want to finish this part of the season with a win.”

Central defender Shahar Piven also looked ahead to the contest: “We began our matches well recently and it may look easy but beforehand we had to really work hard and the opponents came ready to play against us. We have a very tough game, they are an excellent team which hasn’t lost at home and they also have a quality defense. We’re not underestimating them.”

Piven: “I’m happy the club relies on me; I want to continue to improve”

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Shahar Piven, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s young central defender looked ahead to Sunday night’s Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika clash at Kiryat Shemona (20:15) while also looking at his own performance:

I’ve been in the Starting XI over the last few matches and the battle to get a place in the squad is very difficult. This is a daily battle and it’s great that it is. I feel great playing with my teammates and I’m learning a tremendous amount. It’s just a great opportunity to both play and train with these types of players.”

Returning from loan:
“Every player has his own journey. After playing for the Under-19 side I was loaned for a year and a half and it was the best thing for me. I always believed in myself and that I would return to Maccabi. I’m happy that I returned this season and it’s a dream come true for myself and I’ll continue to work hard exactly for this.”

Has it been easy for Maccabi this season:
“It hasn’t been easy. We began our matches well recently and it may look easy but beforehand we had to really work hard and the opponents came ready to play against us. We have a very tough game, they are an excellent team which hasn’t lost at home and they also have a quality defense. We’re not underestimating them.”

About the team off of the pitch:
“I don’t know what it was like in the last but I do know that right now we have a very hungry team that wants to win titles and succeed. It’s a mixture of young and experienced players. Even when I didn’t play or when others did play we all want everyone to succeed.”

Personal goals:
“To become a starter at Maccabi Tel Aviv. I’m very happy with the opportunity I’ve been given and that the club relies on me. I want to play as much as I can this season and continue to improve.”

Ivic: “I’m happy as to how the players battle for a place in the squad”

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Maccabi Tel Aviv will head to Kiryat Shemona on Sunday at 20:15 for an Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika Matchday 10 clash and the Head Coach Vladimir Ivic spoke about the goals ahead of the contest:

“The goal is to take 3 points. I agree that it will be a difficult match against the third place team. They have given up only 5 goals and that says that they are a serious team. The pitch may be smaller than usual and we are expecting a tough match and we’ve been preparing all week for this. We want to finish this part of the season with a win.”

The situation on the table:
“I said after last match that I don’t know of a team who won the title in November. We have to work hard and even harder. It’s more difficult to stay where we are on the table than to actually get there. Everyone wants to defeat you when you’re in first place and we have to first concentrate on ourselves and that is our way. There is no other way.”

Players called up for the National Team:
“This is great for us that we have so many players on the National Team and that says they appreciate us. We’re all proud. Perhaps the break will be more difficult for us as we can’t go out to a short training camp because we have a short squad. I’ve said many times that I’m happy that we have players on the National Team and that means they are working hard and that they deserve to be in the squad amongst the best players in the country.”

Impression of the league:
“There are many good teams and clubs that play disciplined football. I don’t know what will be in the future but until now this is not a weak league. There are players here who can play in bigger leagues and my opinion so far is good. Every country wants to improve their league and I think that Israel is on the right track.”

Competition in the squad:
“It’s good for any coach that they have many players in good shape. I agree that sometimes it creates a headache to decide who will be in the squad or the Starting XI and I have this headache every week. I’m happy how the players battle for a spot and that’s the way we will be able to keep our position on the table.”

Squad status:
“Eitan Tibi and Ofir Davidzada aren’t fit for the upcoming match and I hope that they will be back soon with us.”

Tzarfati: “We played a good second half and I’m optimistic”

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Guy Tzarfati, the Under-19 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv Coach looked back at his squad’s 1:1 draw at Sigma Olomouc in the first leg of second round UEFA Youth Champions League action:

“In short, this was a good result. We played against a good team at their home and we had a long trip to get here which wasn’t easy with bus rides and getting to the hotel late. It was great that we had a good second half and that was very good to see the players perform well both individually and as a team. We were able to draw even at 1:1 and now we have three weeks to get ready for the return leg. This was just the first half and the second half awaits us.”

About the match:
“We gave too much respect at the start of the match to both the tournament we are in and the opponent. We made some mistakes in the middle of our defense that allowed them some chances. Our keeper Or Itzhak made some saves that helped them out along with the bar saving a goal. But we played a good second half and I’m optimistic. I explained to them that when we played our football and our system that we’ve played in the past there’s no question that we couldn’t go forward and create chances. I’m happy that we were able to do that as the guys are young and play with passion.”

Showing their quality:
“I told them before the match it doesn’t matter who we are playing but we have to show our qualities and I’m happy that we were able to do that in the second half and that we scored a goal. In fact, during our best minutes we actually gave up a goal. But we knew how to comeback as the substitutes knew their roles and now we’ll head back to Israel and we have enough time to prepare properly for the next match.”

Mufleh Shalata’s goal:
“I believe he made a nice play to score the goal. He came into the match properly and we knew that he would be a substitute who could give us a goal. He works hard and I’m happy for him along with the other players.”

The importance of the fans:
“I hope that the Maccabi fans will come out to see the young players and how they play as they are the future of the team and the club. I know we didn’t disappoint them the last time they came to see us play. We will really need them when we play against Sigma at Ramle as they are a good team. We played here in front of a good crowd that helped their team and I hope that will be the same case in Ramle to help us advance to the next stage.”

See you in Ramle: Maccabi “Shachar” 1:1 Sigma Olomouc

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The Under-19 squad continued their European Journey today in the Czech Republic when they played Sigma Olomouc to a 1:1 draw. The match was the first leg of a two legged UEFA Youth Champions League tie for Maccabi “Shachar” after they disposed of Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in the first round. The return leg will take place in Israel on November 28.

צפו: תקציר משחק ה-1:1 נגד סיגמה אולומוץ

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Ido Shahar, Yoav Hofmayster, Omer Barami, Rave Assayag, Eduardo Guerrero and Eyal Hen.
First Half
The Czech side opened well and had a pair of terrific chances to take the lead as Zifčák and Zlatohlávek had opportunities but Itzhak made the big save off the latter to keep the match goalless early on. Lugassi was issued a yellow card in the 16’ after a foul on Zifčák in the 16’ while five minutes later the young Yellow & Blue had their first chance of the contest when Assayag missed the target off a Hofmayster corner.

Sigma threatened Itzhak’s goal in the 27’ but Galus’s chance from 10 meters went out and three minutes later Zifčák again missed the target. Barami tried his luck in the 35’ but his shot went into the Czech defense as the match remained goalless into the break.

Second Half
Maccabi’s first chance of the second half came in the 55’ when Guerrero went from right to left but his left footed shot just went by the post and out. Two minutes later, Hofmayster lifted a ball to Barami but his header went over the goal and in the 63’ Mufleh Shalata came into the match in favor of Hen.

But five minutes later the host’s took a 1:0 lead as Langer got the ball to Zima in the box as the central defender headed home the goal. Maccabi then made a number of substitutes as the Yellow & Blue looked for the equalizer and a valuable away goal. As the match neared it’s end Bar Cohen took an attempt from 20 meter but the keeper made the stop in the 82’.

However, the Maccabi pressure paid off and in the 87’ Shalata made his way by three players and took a left footed shot from 13 meters which beat the Sigma keeper to draw the Yellow & Blue even at 1:1. Guy Tzarfati’s side will return to Israel with an away goal and a chance to advance to the next round when they meet Sigma Olomouc at home in November 27 in the second leg of the two-legged tie.