The Israel League Ligat Japanika published the dates and times of the club’s fixtures through Matchday 14. The matches are as follows (Home team listed first):

Matchday 3 – Saturday September 15, 18:00: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Raanana
Matchday 4 – Saturday September 22, 20:30: Maccabi Netanya – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 5 – Monday October 1, 21:00: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Tel Aviv
Matchday 6 – Sunday October 7, 21:00: Beitar Jerusalem – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 7 – Saturday October 20, 17:00: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Hapoel Hadera
Matchday 8 – Sunday October 28, 20:30: Hapoel Haifa – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 9 – Saturday November 3, 20:30: Maccabi Tel Aviv – Bnei Sakhnin
Matchday 10 – Sunday November 11, 20:15: Kiryat Shemona – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 11 – Saturday December 1, 21:00: Maccabi Petah Tikva – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 12 – Tuesday December 4, 20:30: Maccabi Tel Aviv – SC Ashdod
Matchday 13 – Saturday December 8, 20:30: Bnei Yehuda – Maccabi Tel Aviv
Matchday 14 – Monday December 17, 21:00: Maccabi Haifa – Maccabi Tel Aviv

After a super busy month of action, it’s time to vote for the August HISENSE Player of the Month for a chance to win a brand new TV.

Maccabi FIRST members can choose the player that they thought were the best of the best beginning today Monday September 3rd until Tuesday September 4th at 13:00. At 17:00 on Tuesday all those who chose the winning player will receive an SMS with a trivia question. The first to answer correctly will win a 32” TV from HISENSE.

For the rules and regulations, click here.

Yellow & Blue striker, Itay Shechter looked back at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 1:1 draw at Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 2 of the Israel Premier League:

“It was a bit of a missed opportunity. We were better for the majority of the match and gave up a goal that we shouldn’t have. But you can see that Maccabi has a strong character to be able to come here after getting slapped on Thursday. We will be a strong team this year both on and off of the pitch and in the mental aspects as well. We have a bunch of men here. We’re disappointed, but we will take away the positives as there is a long way to go. To come into Beer Sheva and play the way we did especially after Thursday shows a lot of character. We will continue to work hard with passion, hunger and desire in order to reach our goals this season.”

A strong Maccabi:
“We began the match well, we controlled most of the game and Beer Sheva had a tough time adapting to the way we played. We gave up a goal on a half mistake but we showed character in a tough stadium. This is only Matchday 2 and we will keep working hard and focussed to reach our goals and for everyone to see a strong Maccabi.”

Just the start of the season:
“I knew that there would be tough competition for playing time in the squad which was built for both Europe and domestic competitions. I knew that I would have to prove myself in training and during the minutes I received at the start of the season. Slowly but surely I have been gaining confidence and have been playing more. This is just the beginning of the season and there will be good minutes and some not so good minutes along the way. My goal as a player and the goals of Maccabi Tel Aviv is to work hard, be hungry and modest as the league has a long way to go.”

Giving everything for Maccabi:
“We have to give it our all in every training session and every player understands at Maccabi that they have to give 110% whether it’s for 90 minutes or one minute. There were three ongoing competitions and the coach split the minutes up appropriately throughout the squad. I will give everything I have any time I am called upon.”

Taking the positives:
“Golasa scored a great goal and we have to give him credit. We are on the right path and we have plenty of time to go in the season. In order for us to forget what happened in Europe we all had to give it our all and we did everything to win here but the match ended in a draw. We will take the positives, learn from them and move on. Have a Happy Rosh Hashana and a Happy New Year.”

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach spoke about his side’s 1:1 draw at Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 2 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika:

“I’m not satisfied with the result as we came here to win the game and take the 3 points. We played well in the second half and the first 20-25 minutes of the first half, we are on our way. We know what we want and we know what we need to improve. We need to work to fix and to play the full 90 minutes like the majority of the match.”

About not starting Dor Micha and Eliran Atar:
“We played three days ago and some of those players played 90 minutes. All of them gave 100% and more on Thursday. It’s important to understand the players needs and their conditions and to fix the match strategy accordingly. We used them in the second half and they helped us.”

Rotating players:
“Over the past month we changed a lot of players and we competed in three competitions. We have players who work hard everyday and they need to play and to show their qualities. I’m not afraid to give them the chance and use all of my players in the future.”

Goal scorer Eyal Golasa added: “Everyone knows that Turner Stadium is a difficult place to play. We came like men and gave it our all. From the first minute and after the Beer Sheva goal we knew that we wouldn’t lose the match. When I signed with Maccabi I knew why I came here, that I would have to fight for every minute to play in the squad, I’m happy that I was back in the Starting XI and that I scored. We have a coach that makes decisions and we will do what he asks of us.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv came away with a point after a 1:1 draw at Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 2 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japainka. John Ogu scored a first half goal for the host’s while Eyal Golasa found the equalizer in half number two. The Yellow & Blue will be back in action after the international break this coming weekend.

Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Maccabi Tel Aviv Starting XI Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shahar Piven, Sheran Yeini (C), Enric Saborit, Avi Rikan, Eyal Golasa, Dor Peretz, Dan Glazer, Chico Ofoedu, Itay Shechter.

Available on the bench were Haviv Ohayon, Omer Atzily, Dor Micha, Eliran Atar, Eitan Tibi, Aaron Schoenfeld, Maor Kandil.

First Half
Maccabi had the contest’s first chance when Chico sent a nice ball into the box, but Saborit’s tough angled shot went out in the 4’. Thirteen minutes later Glazer’s opportunity from long distance was saved by Beer Sheva keeper Ariel Harush while in the 22’ John Ogu picked up a yellow card for a reckless tackle outside of the host’s box.

Ogu stole the ball in the middle of the pitch, went into the area and beat Rajkovic to give Beer Sheva a 1:0 lead in the 26’. Peretz received a yellow card in the 31’ for a midfield collision with Maor Melikson while 3 minutes later Melikson’s attempt from the left wing was saved by Rajkovic as the host’s took a 1:0 lead into the break.

Second Half
Maccabi came out strong to start the half as Peretz had a chance from 17 meters out that Harush saved in the 47’ while 5 minutes later Shechter put down the ball for Golasa but his blast was saved by Harush. In the 59’ Vladimir Ivic made a double substitution as Dor Micha and Eliran Atar came on for Chico Ofoedu and Avi Rikan as Beer Sheva also made a pair of changes as Hen Ezra and Matan Ohayon were introduced for Ben Sahar and Loai Taha.

The Yellow & Blue finally found the back of the goal on a counter down the right side as Shechter and Peretz teamed up to confuse the Beer Sheva defense as the former sent Golasa a perfect through pass in the box that number 23 slotted home for the tying goal in the 64’. Five minutes later Eden Ben Basat almost gave the host’s the lead but his one on one attempt was skied over the goal.

In the 77’ Maccabi put together a quality attack but Peretz’s attempt from just outside of the box went over the goal and two minutes later Beer Sheva brought on Hanan Matan for Dan Einbinder. Saborit sent Atar a great pass but the latter’s shot was saved by a diving Harush in the 81’. Maman’s 84’ attempt from the right side was caught by Rajkovic as the keeper quelled the Beer Sheva chance. Shechter’s 87’ opportunity from the top of the box went over the bar while Ogu’s header on the other side of the pitch was saved by Rajkovic as the side’s split the points in a 1:1 draw.