Category: News

Maccabi “Shachar” eliminated from State Cup play

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After winning their two previous State Cup matches, the Under-19 team was drawn against Hapoel Haifa in the Israel State Cup Quarterfinals in a contest held at Kiryat Haim, home of the Northern Reds. The Yellow-and-Blue looked to avenge two defeats to Haifa and continue on in the competition.

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Following a 4:1 victory at Wassermil Stadium against Hapoel Beer Sheva, Head Coach Ziv Arie made only one change to his starting XI with Noam Cohen replacing Amit Rosenboim who was off on Army duty.

The match opened up in very cautious fashion by both sides as Oliel Peretz picked up a yellow card early on. Following a number of quality corner kicks by the young Yellow-and-Blue, Haifa was off to the races as Derrick Bonnah made his way towards the Maccabi “Shachar” goal and keeper Hen Ozeri, beating the shot stopper to give the home side a 1:0 lead.

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The Under-19 team didn’t let the deficit get them down and applied pressure to find the equalizer, but Peretz’s chance went right to the Red’s keeper as they took their slim advantage into the break.

Head Coach Arie made one substitution to begin the second half as Tomer Altman was introduced in place of Noam Cohen as Maccabi moved to a formation sporting three central defenders. Unfortunately, the second half began just as the first did with the Yellow-and-Blue giving up another goal to go down by two. Maxim Falchenko’s free kick from 20 meters again beat Ozeri as the Reds increased their lead to 2:0.

Arie brought on Omri Haramati who had a number of chances but couldn’t find the back of the goal while a Gaby Kanichowsky short range effort was stopped cold by the Haifa keeper. To add insult to injury, five minutes from time, a counter attack by the Reds led to their third and final goal of the match when Ener Shecter beat Ozeri to finish the match off 3:0 and bounce Maccabi “Shachar” from the tourney.

Arie: “There’s no room for mistakes in Cup play”

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The Yellow-and-Blue Under-19 team will kick off against Hapoel Haifa on Wednesday in State Cup quarterfinal action. The match will take place at Kiryat Haim and Maccabi will look to pick up an important win having already suffered two defeats at the hands of the Northern Reds.

Head Coach Ziv Arie spoke to the Official Website following the final training session prior to the match: “The two losses against them were actually two totally different games. It’s going to be tough to play our football at Kiryat Haim. We’ll try to make the difference in the box. About last game at Ramle, I’d rather forget about it.”

The players and the challenge ahead:

“A lot of the players here have been through some big matches, be it the Champions League Youth League and also in the earlier round of the State Cup. We’re not a team that knows how to move the ball forward but we will make some adjustments and make sure we don’t make any mistakes.”

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Encouraged from last Saturday’s match:

“It’s been tough to put a finger on where the momentum will swing next this season. We made some second half changes and the players responded well. I hope that it gave them some confidence but we still have to be a bit more aggressive and not be as soft as we were. There’s no room for mistakes in Cup play.”

The importance of the match and the State Cup:

“The players know full well what our goal is with the Cup tournament and they are not afraid of it. I told the players that it doesn’t matter who we get drawn against. Did they get it? We’ll find out tomorrow at 18:00.”

Maccabi and “Educating for Excellence” at Kiryat Shalom

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After defeating Hapoel Raanana last night at Bloomfield Stadium, the Yellow-and-Blue players arrived at Kiryat Shalom for a light training session. However, just before practice, they met with children from the local branch of “Educating for Excellence” for a unique encounter.

The Senior Team gave out backpacks from the WINNER League, took pictures with the children on the Kiryat Shalom pitch and of course signed autographs on shirts, hats, mobile phones and anything else they had with them.

“Educating for Excellence” was founded in 1999 and operates 37 programs throughout the country. More than 2,000 youth participate in the organization’s programs while 600 students receive scholarships who act as positive role models for the children. The group comes to Kiryat Shalom once every two weeks to take part in activities with the Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Department.

Peretz- “I’m always ready to play”

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Dor Peretz came into last night’s match after having spent the International break with the Israel National Under-21 Team excited to get back to playing for Maccabi. The midfielder came on as a second half substitution that helped turned the tide of the match giving the Yellow-and-Blue a 3:0 victory over Hapoel Raanana at Bloomfield Stadium:

“You can say it was a good substitution. Did I help change up the game? I’m not sure, but I feel that the game swung in our favor when I came in and I’m happy to have been able to help.”

Having the chance to play:

“I’m always ready to play. Be it from the bench, from the stands where I’ll wait for the opportunity and of course when I do start I of course enjoy it very much and I appreciate it.”

About Beer Sheva:

“They have to worry about themselves and do their own work but right now the pressure is on them because we did what we had to. I hope the results will go on our favor. Every team will lose points along the way throughout the season, but right now it’s even more critical because it’s the money time of the campaign. We will continue to focus on ourselves and if we do what we need to everything will turn out well.

The club is getting into good shape:

“Yes, it feels that way and it’s great that we are all getting into shape during the money time of the season. It’s great for us and I hope that the results will be favorable for us but there are still plenty of matches and points available. The games right now may not decide the title but they are very important.”

On the short bench due to injuries:

“The players today made the difference in the match even-though we had a short bench. I’m sure that next week many will be back and healthy.”

Sign up for the next NIVEA MEN Challenge

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Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and NIVEA MEN, the world’s leading cosmetics brand for men, are proud to invite two of the club’s loyal season ticket holders to join them for the NIVEA MEN CHALLENGE  at half time of the team’s next home game against Hapoel Beer Sheva at Bloomfield Stadium on May 2nd.

The two lucky participants will first be given a full Maccabi kit to wear, with their names and chosen numbers printed on the back. Then they’ll receive a short training before taking their place on the pitch to face their challenge, with the entire Maccabi home crowd looking on in envy.

What will be the challenge this time? Wait and see. One thing is for certain: The winner will receive a handsome reward – a season’s worth of NIVEA MEN products in a special gift package. And both contestants will be invited to have their photographs taken to save the moment for posterity.

So if you’re a season ticket holder over the age of 18, and have at least some basic footballing skills, just fill in this online form and submit it by Tuesday April 26th at 5pm.

Are you ready for the challenge?

Ben Chaim- “Maccabi is a magnificent club”

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Tel Ben Chaim scored his 9th WINNER League goal of the year last evening and it was one of the best strikes of the season in helping defeat Hapoel Raanana 3:0 at Bloomfield Stadium. The winger spoke about how this match may not have been one of their best, but how taking three points in crucial for the ultimate goal:

“It was a tough match but I’m happy that we were able to make sure we scored the goals and not give up any as they had plenty of quality chances. We also have to be honest with ourselves, that this was not one of our best matches. Rajikovic was terrific and saved some sure goals. At the end of the day we won 3:0 but most importantly we took three points. I’ve got to say that against Sakhnin where we won 1:0, we looked much better and played as a team.”

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His form this season:

“It may sound cliche, but the goals in front of us as a club interest me much more and how I am doing as individual is the last thing that I care about right now.”

About picking up a yellow card:

“I can try a bit harder to make sure I don’t get a yellow card like I did. It’s clear that I could’ve avoided it and I spoke to the referee after the match about how it was a yellow, but he could’ve looked the other way. He agreed, but it’s ok, he’s a great referee.”

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The possibility of going to Europe:

“These questions always come up after good games near the end of the season. I signed a new contract here at the beginning of the year and it’s an excellent one for me. If you would have asked this question three years ago when I came to Maccabi, I probably would have said that I have to play outside of Israel one day. Today, I don’t even look at it that way. I believe I play for a magnificent club in all respects. With what’s going on in Maccabi these days, if one had thought about playing in Europe there’s no way now one would not want to be here. I’m in a place that’s good for me right now and we will see down the line.”

The Beer Sheva – Beitar Jerusalem match:

“It’s a simple equation. There are two teams fighting for the title and you want your rival to drop points. It doesn’t matter if it’s against you, Beitar Jerusalem, Hapoel Raanana or any other club. So sure, I’d be thrilled if Beitar wins or if the match ends in a draw.”

Leaving Bloomfield:

“Everyone knows what Bloomfield means to us. There are a lot of great stadiums in the country but I don’t think that there are many that gives us what this stadium does.”

Medunjanin-“Raijko saved us today”

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Maccabi Tel Aviv returned for the International break directly to Bloomfield for a Championship playoff match win over Raanana who have proven to be a very difficult club to play against. The Yellow-and-Blue picked up the win on goals by Eran Zahavi, Tal Ben Chaim and Haris Medunjanin who spoke after the game:

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“I played in front more in the second half so it was easier to get into the position to score. Most of the time I play in front of the defense and I have keep things organized with Gal Alberman. But when Dor Peretz came in I had more freedom to go up front and to create chances.”

Changing tactics:

“If you saw the first half we had so many problems and Rajikovic saved us so many times. That’s not how we normally play and we were in a difficult position. We need to learn from this and we need to compliment our coach who changed tactics in the second half to three in the back and it was much easier for us to play against them like this and to beat them.”

Opportunities over the course of the match:

“Every game is difficult for us as every team comes here to take points and we have to be focused for 90 minutes. Rajiko saved us today and if they would have scored we may have been in a deficit position. We played a good game in the second half and we had many chances to score more goals.”

The International break:

“I was in Bosnia to see my family and they said that I came home very happy. There were a lot of times I would come home angry because I hadn’t played and I didn’t feel that I could’ve done as much as possible. It was good for me to see my family and it was very important. Everyone said I need to shoot more. Today I had one chance and I was able to score. But most importantly is that we win and take the championship.”

Bidding adieu to Johan Cruyff:

“Johan Cruyff was a legend and it was a difficult week for everyone. When I saw him in Israel, I was in shock, since I grew up in Holland and I had only heard the name Cruyff. I hope that Jordi and his family know no more sorrow.”

The fans reaction to his second stint with the club:

“There were definitely times that were not that good. I am trying to do the best I can and I want to win the championship with Maccabi this time around. I will do everything I can to accomplish this and to make the fans happy.”