Category: News

Glazer: “This is an important win that will push us forward”

Posted on

Dan Glazer, the Yellow & Blue midfielder looked back at Maccabi’s 2:1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League as well how his role has changed within the squad:

“We didn’t begin the second half well, but we didn’t allow Netanya a chance other then when they scored off the corner even though they controlled the pace of play. Even in matches where we don’t play our best it’s crucial for us to take the points and continue on our way.”

His role in the squad:
“I feel like it’s a dream. The last couple of months have really helped changed my role with the squad and it’s great. But the hard work will be to continue the way we have begun the season.”

The championship:
“I can’t talk about talk about the championship now, we’ll have to wait for May to do that. But what I can tell you is that this was a very important win and a huge 3 points that will push us forward.”

Places on the squad:
“The competition is not just the Starting XI but the squad in general. If you see our training sessions you would know how much each one of us puts into it and how much effort is put in by each and everyone of us. This is a healthy competition and every one is happy to work for the ultimate goal together. It’s good that we have a quality and deep squad as everyone will be needed whether they are playing more or less now.”

Toto Cup Final on Wednesday:
“One of our goals is to keep the Toto Cup title and I hope we will. After Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday we can look ahead to the Derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv.”

Dasa: “It’s not really important if I tried to score or not, the most important thing is that we won”

Posted on

Eli Dasa, the Maccabi Tel Aviv defender spoke about his 81’ match winner in a 2:1 victory over Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League and looked back at the goal that handed the Yellow & Blue the 3 points:

“It’s not really important if I tried to score or not and it doesn’t matter how the ball went in, the most important thing is that we won the match.”

About the match that was:
“Netanya is one of the toughest opponents in the league and they play quality football. They played us very well and tough but thankfully we were able to take the win.”

Winning late in the game:
“Last season we also had these types of matches where we won, but now it’s this is year and it’s only Matchday 4. It’s a long season and we have to take it game by game.”

8 point lead over Hapoel Beer Sheva:
“I don’t think we have to look at Hapoel Beer Sheva. We have to concentrate on ourselves and continue to work hard.”

Ivic: “We want to win every match”

Posted on

Vladimir Ivic, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach was content to take the win and the 3 points over a tough Maccabi Netanya squad on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League:

“It’s our first away win this season and it’s not good that it’s our first because we want to win every match. But it’s our first one and I hope that this will continue.”

The second half:
“We didn’t play well in the 2nd half and the way we wanted to. We will have to improve. They had one or two chances after their set pieces and that was a problem. We must work hard to improve, try to play how we want to, play stronger and have more ball possession to create more chances.”

Quality of players on the bench:
“We have a lot of players who can be in the Starting XI depending on our opponents. We have a game in a few days and some of the players that didn’t start tonight will play in that game.”

The gap between Maccabi and Beer Sheva:
“It means nothing. I try to concentrate on my team, how we play and what we want to do on the pitch.”

Maccabi defeats Netanya 2:1 on Dasa’s late goal

Posted on

Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Netanya 2:1 on Matchday 4 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika. Itay Shechter gave the Yellow & Blue a first half lead, but the host’s drew even early on in the second half thanks to a David Tiram header. However, an off balanced sharp angled shot by Eli Dasa from the right side in the 81’ made its way past a baffled Dani Amos to give Maccabi the 3 points and the win. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajkovic, Eli Dasa, Shachar Piven, Sheran Yeini, Ofir Davidzada, Dor Micha, Eyal Golasa, Dan Glazer, Ruslan Barsky, Itay Shechter, Eliran Atar.

Available on the bench were Haviv Ohayon, Avi Rikan, Enric Saborit, Jair Amador, Omer Atzily, Chico Ofoedu, Dor Peretz.

First Half
Davidzada and Vicki Kahlon picked up yellow cards in the first five minutes while Aviv Avraham’s one on one chance on Rajkovic was cleared at the last second by Dasa. Piven was issued a yellow card in the 14’ while four minutes later Micha sent a classic through ball to Shechter but his attempt went off a defender.

In the 21’ Guy Melamed’s long distance chance went over the goal and 3 minutes later Maccabi picked off an errant ball by Amos, but Atar’s share angled shot from the left side went off the side netting of the goal. The Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead in the 27’ as Yeini’s brilliant pass from the midfield found Shechter who easily beat his defender and slotted the ball into the back of the goal.

Micha sent a nice ball to Atar in the 32’ but his bicycle kick attempt missed the target while three minutes later Golasa’s shot from 20 meters went over the bar. Shechter was handed a yellow card in the 40’ as the half ended with Maccabi holding a 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Jair Amador was introduced in place of Davidzada and Maccabi moved to 3 central defenders as Micha dropped back to the left. In the 50’ a short corner by Netanya to Niclas Elsek resulted in a goal as he lofted a ball into the box and David Tiram headed it behind Rajkovic to draw even at 1:1.

In the 56’ Netanya threatened Rajkovic’s goal again as Gabriel Kanikowsky’s chance was blocked by by Glazer who sent the ball out for a corner. In the 64’ Chico Ofoedu came on for Atar as Ivic made his 2nd substitute looking to freshen up the offense while Ofoedu then had a quick chance but his attempt went out.

Micha went by a number of defenders but was pulled down in the 70’ by Dudu Twitto who received a yellow card for his efforts, but Barsky’s free kick from the top of the box went over the goal. Five minutes later, Omer Atzily was introduced for the aforementioned Barsky as Ivic made his 3rd substitution of the match.

Then out of nowhere Dasa takes a sharp angled shot from the right side that somehow finds its way behind Amos to give Maccabi a 2:1 lead in the 81’ as the Yellow & Blue wrapped up the win and took home the 3 points. On Wednesday Maccabi will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final at the Moshava Stadium while on Monday October 1st the Yellow & Blue will host the Reds in the Tel Aviv Derby.

Maccabi “Shachar” wins dramatic Derby 1:0 in 93rd minute

Posted on

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv hosted the first Derby of the season against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Matchday 4 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue came into the contest after a goalless draw at Kiryat Shemona last week along with two wins and in 2nd place while the Reds had only picked up 1 point in 3 matches so far this campaign.

Starting XI: Daniel Peretz, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glazer, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster, Eduardo Guerrero, Omer Barami, Eyal Hen.

First Half
The match opened up well for Maccabi as they had a 2’ chance when Hofmayster made it by two Hapoel players in the midfield and sent the ball to Guerrero but his shot went by the post. Six minutes later the Reds threatened but Ofek Ovadia’s opportunity went out.

In the 18’ Barami’s attempt just outside of the box went off a Hapoel player and two minutes later the Yellow & Blue almost took the lead when Hen took the ball on the right wing but his tough shot went off the defense and Hofmayster’s rebound attempt on target went out for a corner. Tamir Glazer’s 24’ long distance chance was stopped by Reds keeper Omer Barness as he parried the ball away for another corner and one minute later Barami’s attempt just missed the goal by centimeters.

Hapoel had a pair of opportunities in the 32’ both by Daniel Konitzky but his header went over the bar and his dangerous shot was taken care of by Peretz as the half ended goalless.

Second Half
Guerrero had the first good chance of the half from left of the box but his attempt was saved by Barness while a minute later Barami’s shot was also stopped by the Reds keeper. In the 51’ the visitor’s almost took the lead as Davida took the ball from the right side and raced through the middle of the pitch, but his chance just went over the goal as the score stayed as is.

In the 65’ Shalata’s chance cleared the bar and 4 minutes later the Reds almost found the back of the goal on a dangerous corner, but the ball was cleared to safety. Shalata again found himself with an opportunity to score in the 74’ but his shot went over the goal. Tal Yagudaev who had come on as a substitute received the ball on the right side in the 80’ and sent it to Guerrero who had a fantastic chance in front of the goal but the ball escaped his clutches at the last second.

Ofek Ovadia had another chance to give the Reds the lead in the 85’ but his attempt missed the target, while 5 minutes later Yagudaev had a brilliant chance one on one with the keeper but Barness made an unbelievable foot save as time began to wind down with the match still deadlocked at 0:0.

However, deep into injury time Shalata’s fabulous shot beat the Reds keeper to give the Derby to Maccabi and paint Tel Aviv Yellow & Blue! Shalata took off his shirt and was handed a second yellow card as the fans celebrated the win.

Final Preparations: Maccabi Tel Aviv visits Maccabi Netanya

Posted on

Maccabi Tel Aviv continues Israel Premier League Ligat Japanika action this evening when they visit Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 at the Netanya Stadium (20:30). On Wednesday September 26th the Yellow & Blue will face Maccabi Haifa in the Toto Cup Final and the following Monday Hapoel Tel Aviv will be the opponent in the first league derby of the season.

השערים הגדולים נגד מכבי נתניה

Vladimir Ivic’s squad enters the match in 1st place after defeating Hapoel Raanana 4:1 last week while they won their season opener against Maccabi Haifa and drew at Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Maccabi Netanya have one point to date and are in last place. On Matchday 1 they fell at Hapoel Haifa 5:0 while the following week they drew 1:1 against Bnei Sakhnin. Last week Kiryat Shemona defeated Slobodan Drapic and Shay Barda’s side 1:0. The Diamond City side lost the services of Dia Saba who moved to Beer Sheva but brought on board Guy Melamed, Moti Barshatzky and Stav Finish.

Last season, the Yellow & Blue also met Maccabi Netanya on Matchday 4 and picked up a 3:2 win. Over the course of the season the team’s faced each other 3 more times in league play as the Yellow & Blue won twice and fell once.

Head Coach Vladimir Ivic spoke ahead of the contest at the prematch press conference: “I’m happy we have a lot of games to play ahead of us.” As he referred to the upcoming matches against Netanya, Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv.

He also talked about the keys to victory: “We prepare for every game and we have the same goal which is to take 3 points. We must fight, concentrate and be ready to improve and to take responsibility during the games and have possession in order to win the game. Netanya has played well over the past couple of seasons and even though they changed some players, they are still a good team and we have to be prepared from the first to the last second of the game.”

Veteran midfielder Eyal Golasa also looked ahead to the contest: “We are preparing well and we expect a tough game on Saturday. Netanya is always a hard matchup, but we know how to get ready for them.”

Competing for a place in the Starting XI:
“It’s a great thing that there is competition and it brings out the best in us as we fight for a spot in the starting XI.”

Changes at Netanya:
“Netanya is going through some changes and even when they were without Eran Levy and Dia Saba last season they were a good team. They are always competitive no matter who is playing for them.”

U19 Derby: A look back at Derbies of the past

Posted on

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv and Hapoel “Nisanov” Tel Aviv will meet in the first Israel Youth League Derby of the season as the Yellow & Blue host’s the Reds at the Ramle Stadium at 12:40 on Matchday 4. Just ahead of the big contest, Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about the match while we’ve also looked back at some of the Under-19 Derbies of the past.

Tzarfati has been a part of plenty of Derbies whether it’s been as a player in both the Youth Department and with the first team along with manning the sidelines as he did last campaign: “There’s always a great atmosphere and a lot of feelings surrounding the Derby and only those who have experienced it can understand. Derby matches are always interesting and there is always a desire to succeed which makes all of us even more focused on the task at hand. The player’s preparations have to be implemented during the actual match itself and I hope and believe that my squad will have a successful Derby and one that will be a wonderful experience.”

Under-19 Derbies of the past
Over the past ten years there have been 20 League Derbies. The record: 10 Maccabi wins, 4 draws, 6 losses. The Yellow & Blue have actually collected more points at away Derbies (18) than at home (16).

The biggest win belongs to Maccabi and occurred in the 2014/15 season when the Reds hosted the Derby at Bloomfield Stadium. Ziv Arie was the Head Coach and took the side to the championship. The final score was 4:0 in favor of the Yellow & Blue as Yonatan Cohen (x2), Stav Ben Aharon and Sohil Armeli scored.

Some of the top Derby goal scorers include:
Eylon Almog – The striker who now plays for Beitar Tel Aviv Ramle featured for the Under-19 squad between 2015-2018 and played in 6 Derbies while scoring 5 goals.

Yonatan Cohen – The striker played with the U19 side between 2013-2915 and scored 5 goals in 4 Derbies,

Gael Margulies – Was with Maccabi “Shachar” between 2011-2013 and scored 3 goals in 5 matches.

The most goals scored by a player in a single Derby is 2 and has been done by Yonatan Cohen (14/15), Dor Jan (13/14), Matan Hozez (13/14), Eliel Peretz (13/14).

The longest undefeated streak stands at 7 matches from 2009/10-2011/12. In 2010/11 the squad won the Double and beat their Tel Aviv rivals in the State Cup Round of 16. 2011/12 was also a successful campaign as the Yellow & Blue took home the league title.

Under current Head Coach Guy Tzarfati, the Under-19 side has a Derby record of 3 wins and a draw. Last season, the Yellow & Blue won 3:1 at home while the return leg was a 2:2 draw. Tomorrow, Maccabi “Shachar” will look to continue their positive momentum so far this season and write a new chapter in the history of the Tel Aviv Derby.