Category: News

Cruyff: “There’s 27 points to go; everything is still open”

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Jordi Cruyff, the Yellow & Blue Head Coach summed up his squad’s 2:1 loss to Hapoel Haifa on Matchday 27 of the Israel Premier League Ligat Ha’Al which began the Championship Playoffs and spoke about the club’s second half:

“I think everything went wrong. We started to lose the ball very easily, sloppy and some players for tired. When you get tired you have to make things more simple and not more difficult. The first half we had chances and we were full of energy. The second half some players went down on their energy and we felt it immediately. We lost control of the game and it was a very disappointing end of the match.”

Losing control of the game:
“Sloppy when we were losing the ball in positions that we don’t need to lose. The moment you feel you lose control of the game is when you have to play simple just to regain the control. We went into a transition game with a team that’s very good playing that way and we paid for a very, very bad second half.”

Owner Mitch Goldhar being in attendance:
“His presence is always motivational and we played a strong first half just like last week’s game. But we aren’t capable of maintaining it for 90 minutes and that’s something that during the season we have had too many ups and downs during the game. We lose control and then we need to run and we suffer when we have to run as the players get tired and then it becomes a transition game which is something we don’t want. It’s disappointing because Mitch is here and we want to give a good game and good performance and make him happy but the truth is we did the opposite.”

The ability of the club:
“He saw what he said, that we have a good ability in the first half and in the second half we disappear. It’s happened to us too many times too often this season and it’s one of the big causes why we lost so many points. We had a chance to score the second goal and kill off a game and we didn’t do it and we were punished for that.”

Issues of losing the first playoff game:
“Especially when our rivals won we are making it difficult for ourselves but we still gave 9 games to go, a lot of direct confrontations and we have to stand up and bounce back strong or else it will be difficult.”

Looking ahead to the last 9 matches:
“There’s 27 points to go. My calculation is that everything is open, but after today’s result we are making it difficult for ourselves.”

Maccabi falls to Hapoel Haifa 2:1

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Maccabi Tel Aviv began the Championship Playoff Round with a home defeat to Hapoel Haifa. The Yellow & Blue struck first via Eli Dasa but the Carmel Reds received second half goals by Maxim Plakuschenko and Haim Megrelashvili to take the 3-points and the win just ahead of the International break.

Head Coach Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI included keeper Predrag Rajikovic along with Yuval Shpungin, Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Jean-Sylvain Babin, Dor Micha (C), Eyal Golasa, Dor Peretz, Avi Rikan, Nick Blackman and Vidar Kjartansson.

Available on the bench were keeper Daniel Tenenbaum, Jose Rodriguez, Barak Itzhaki, Eliran Atar, Aaron Schoenfeld, Tal Ben Haim and Ofir Davidzada.

First Half
Owner Mitch Goldhar was in attendance and after ten minutes of midfield play, Radu Ginsari had the contest’s first chance for Haifa but his attempt went over the bar. Five minutes later Maccabi had their opening opportunity and found the back of the goal when Micha sent a tremendous through ball by the Haifa defense right to Dasa who headed it home for a 1:0 lead. In the 21’ Dasa almost helped double the lead when he gave Vidar a nice ball, but the Reds keeper Ernestas Setkus came off his line to make the stop on a one on one situation.

The Yellow & Blue continued pressing for a second goal and in the 29’ Dasa again was in the mix as he gave Rikan a terrific pass but his chance went over the bar. Golasa (35) and Peretz (42) tried their luck just outside of the box but Setkus made the save in each case.

Second Half
The second half began just as the first, but in the 56’ Rozlan Barsky had to be replaced by Maxim Plakuschenko due to an injury. Two minutes later Haifa almost found the equalizer via Alon Turgeman but Rajikovic was in place to make the save. In the 63’ Dasa took a long distance attempt but his opportunity was skied over the bar. However, five minutes later the visitor’s drew even. Plakuschenko took the ball 25 meters from goal and unleashed a scorcher that made its way behind Rajikovic.

Cruyff made a pair of substitutions in the 71’ as Atar and Davidzada came on for Blackman and Shpungin. Six minutes later Micha lifted a ball from the left side to Rikan but his header from a tough angle went out while Cruyff made his third substitution when he inserted Jose Rodriguez for the aforementioned Rikan. Maccabi looked for the winner but the ball came to Haim Megrelashvili in the box and the Haifa defender headed it into the goal for a 2:1 Hapoel Haifa victory.

The most dramatic derby in Maccabi history? It’s been 4 years since the incredible 3:2 win

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There’s many that consider the 3:2 win in 2013/14 over Hapoel Tel Aviv as one of the greatest Tel Aviv Derbies ever. Maccabi took the lead via Eran Zahavi in the 34’ but Rada Prica was shown red in the 38’ to reduce the Yellow & Blue to 10-men. Omer Damari was able to help the Reds draw even before the break and take the lead in the 87’ thanks to a late penalty. Hapoel fans already began looking to turn the city Red, but that’s when the fun just began.

Winger Tal Ben Chaim who came off the bench was able to draw a penalty as Zahavi tied up the contest at 2:2. That’s it? Not so fast. Deep into injury time Orel Degani lost the ball in the middle of the pitch, Sheran Yeini sent Barak Badash the ball who in turn handed it off to #7 who found the back of Boris Kleiman’s goal for the third time on the last shot of the match. That set off massive celebrations in Gate 11 as Paulo Sousa and Gal Alberman’s legendary sprints entered the annals of Maccabi history. WATCH the full highlights:

תקציר: הפועל ת”א – מכבי ת”א 3:2 (2013-14)

Maccabi “Shachar” & Maccabi Haifa draw 1:1

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Matchday 22 of the Israel Youth Premier League featured Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv against Maccabi Haifa at Ramle Stadium. The young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 2nd place with 10 wins in their last 13 fans while the Greens sat in 4th place.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included Daniel Peretz in goal, Noam Cohen, Alon Shtrozberg, Fadi Najar, Yoav Hofmayster, Tamir Glazer, Tomer Altman (C), Prince Thomas, Mufleh Shalata, Eylon Almog, William Agada.

First Half
Maccabi had the first chance of the match in the 5’ when Almog took the ball in the center of the pitch and made his way towards the box, but his long distance opportunity hit a defender. But the ball rebounded back to Almog but his shot was saved by Sherif Kioff and sent out for a corner. A minute later, Tzarfati’s side again had a chance at the goal when Thomas sent the ball to Agada who smashed the ball out.


In the 8’ central defender Fadi Najar tried his luck from outside the box with a hard shot, but the attempt just grazed the ball. Two minutes later Altman went across the midfield and sent a through ball to Almog, but his attempt his shot went off the post. In the 12’ the Greens has their opening chance when striker Gal Katabi sent the ball towards the target but Peretz was in place to send the balk out for a corner. As the match hit the 17’ Maccabi took the lead when Shtrozberg sent a through ball to the left wing right to an awaiting Cohen who loved to the top of the box and made a pinpoint perfect pass to Thomas who found the back of the goal for a 1:0 advantage.

As the match hit the 20’ the young Yellow & Blue almost doubled their output but Agada’s chance just whistled by the post. Fifteen minutes later the Yellow & Blue had another opportunity when Cohen sent a through ball to Shalata on the left wing who went by a couple of defenders and Agada’s shot went off a defender to end the threat. In the 40’ Haifa central defender Giorgi Drasila took a long shot but Peretz was in place to make the save as Maccabi took a 1:0 lead into the break.

Second Half
Almog began the Half well as Almog received a terrific ball just at the top of the box but his attempt was saved by Kioff. In the 63’ Guy Dahan who came on as a substitute for the Greens took a chance from far out but the ball went out while ten minutes later Haifa almost drew even when Mohamed Caanan’s chance was saved by Peretz but the rebound went to Maor Levi who sent the ball into the Yellow & Blue defense. The Greens again threatened the Maccabi goal in the 77’ when Timothy crossed the ball from the right but Dahan’s attempt just missed the post. Two minutes later Agada’s shot went out.

Haifa drew even when the referees called a penalty as they determined that the Maccabi defense pulled the striker down in the box which Yam Cohen converted to make the score 1:1. In the 88’ Agada received p the ball at the top of the box, turned and unleashed a vicious shot but it hit the outside netting of the goal while two minutes later Yam Cohen again headed the ball out as the contest ended in a 1:1 draw.

“Wow, wow & wow”: Important Maccabi Playoff Moments

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The Championship Playoffs get underway and they’ll certainly bring plenty of action and excitement along with dramatic and important moments. Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first test will be on Sunday against Hapoel Haifa at the Netanya Stadium (21:00) and just before we get rolling let’s look back at some kind the great matches of the past.

2012/13: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0 Ramat Hasharon
The opening match of the playoffs saw the Yellow & Blue at the top of the table but Maccabi Haifa cut the gap and opened up the championship battle. Maccabi Tel Aviv was frustrated for most of the contest but then Rada Prica and Eliran Atar combined to work their magic.

2013/14: Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:0 Maccabi Haifa
On Matchday 30, Maccabi had an 8 point lead over second place Hapoel Beer Sheva and looked to widen the gap close out the championship race. A win over the Greens would put the stamp on another title and that would happen deep into injury time even after a missed 89’ penalty.

2014/15: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:1 Hapoel Beer Sheva
The Match of the Season took place on Matchday 2 of the playoffs as 5 points separated the two sides with a win being critical for either club. It began with a quick goal by Eran Zahavi but the southern squad drew even just as the second half began. However, two Maccabi goals near the end of the game gave the Yellow & Blue a huge push towards the title.

2015/16: Maccabi Tel Aviv 3:2 Beitar Jerusalem
The season didn’t end with a championship but on Matchday 30 the Yellow & Blue had a dramatic playoff win against Beitar Jerusalem thanks to a 90’ Eran Zahavi goal which also moved Maccabi into first place. The goal is also remembered as being Zahavi 31st of the campaign which broke Nissim Elmaliah’s single season goal scoring record. Just as the play by play announcer said, “Wow, wow and wow!”

Youth Department Saturday Action March 17, 2018

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Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Shmuel” Haifa, 12:00 Ramle Stadium (U19)
After a break last week, the Under-19 squad is back in action as they host Maccabi Haifa on Matchday 22 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Guy Tzarfati’s side are in 2nd place and are just one point off top of the table Hapoel Raanana while the Greens are in 4th place just two points away from the Yellow & Blue.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Bnei Sakhnin, 11:00 Kiryat Shalom 1 (U17)
After last week’s 3:0 win over Beitar Jerusalem the Under-17 club will host Bnei Sakhnin on Matchday 22. The young Yellow & Blue are in first place with a 15 point lead as the visitor’s are in 13th spot with 5 league wins this season.

Hapoel “Yotam” Rishon Le’Zion – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 8:30 Rishon Le’Zion Superland 2 North (U16)
The Under-16 squad will travel to Rishon Le’Zion on Matchday 23. Maccabi “Oded” are currently in 5th place and are 8 points off the top of the table while the Orange are in 9th place.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Ironi Kiryat Gat, 09:30 Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U15 South)
After last week’s terrific State Cup win over Maccabi Haifa to advance to the semifinals of the competition, the Under-15 South side will host Kiryat Gat as they will look to pick up the win. The young Yellow & Blue are in 2nd place, 4 points away from first place with a match in hand as Kiryat Gat are in 12 place with 4 league wins.

Maccabi “Max” Haifa – Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv, 14:15 Haifa Kesef Lower (U15 North)
The Under-15 North squad also move on to the State Cup Semifinal last week and will now head north for a date with the Carmel Greens on Matchday 22. Maccabi “Ilan” are in 3rd place while the Greens are in first place 5 points ahead of the Yellow & Blue.

Peretz: “It’s money time; every match will be tough”

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After being a main cog with Maccabi Tel Aviv over the second round of league matches, Dor Peretz and his side begin the Championship Playoffs on Sunday versus Hapoel Haifa and addressed the media at the prematch press conference:

Playoff pressure:
“It’s money time and we can’t afford to drop any games. This is it, we need to take the points in every remaining match.”

Hapoel Haifa’s success after being with them last season:
“There’s a lot of terrific people over there, with players of the highest level and a fantastic professional staff. There’s no reason why the wouldn’t be there. This season they are where they should be.”

Getting ready to go against Hapoel Haifa:
“We prepare for each match one at a time. From our past experiences we learnt that we need to come super prepared when we play the same team in a short period of time. This has not been to our advantage in the past and we need to be ready.”

Playing in the midfield:
“I believe that I’m playing a position that fits me well and I’m happy that I’ve been in the Starting XI over the past while. I just hope that we can keep this up.”

About the National Team:
“Of course I want to play on the National Team.”

What changed within the club over the course of the second round:
“We went back to the basics for us as a club and we built up what the true Maccabi really is. We are doing what we know how to and we see that aggressiveness brings results.”

The battle between the 6 Championship Playoff teams:
“The playoff round features 6 quality teams in every respect. Every match against every club will be tough and each one is worth 3 points. We can’t underestimate any opponent whether it’s Beer Sheva or Netanya.”