Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will welcome Maccabi Petah Tikva on Saturday (12:00) at the Ramle Stadium on Matchday 20 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blue enter the in second place just four points off the top of the table leaders Petah Tikva. Guy Tzarfati’s squad will look to continue their fine play after winning the Derby last week.

Tzarfati, who has experienced football as a youth and senior player as well as a coach spoke about the match of the season from his point of view: “Anytime you have you have the top 2 teams playing there who always be added interest and importance placed on the game itself. For us, it’s important that we continue our positive momentum and play the football that we have over the past few weeks. The players are focused and ready for the match and they know what is expected of them.”

To date, the Under-19 squad has played 19 matches and have won 11 times, drawn in six and have lost only twice while Petah Tikva has a record of 13 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats. Eduardo Guerrero is Maccabi’s leadings scorer with 6 goals while Petah Tikva feature Liel Avda who has nine markers.

Matchday 5 saw the club’s end in a 3:3 draw. The Yellow & Blue took the lead in the 5’ thanks to a goal by Rave Assayag but Petah Tikva drew even just before the break. Bar Cohen gave Maccabi the advantage in the second half but Petah Tikva scored twice to take a 3:2 lead. But in the 82’ Gil Ben Shalosh scored the tying goal to split the points. With ten matches remaining there are 30 points left in the season.

Hapoel Tel Aviv 1:2 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
After winning the International Winter Tournament, Maccabi “Shachar” defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv to take the Derby. Eyal Hen scored first while Eduardo Guerrero put home the winner thanks to an assist by Bar Cohen. The win leaves the U19 squad in 2nd place just 4 points off the top of the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva who they face next week. For the full Match Report click here.

Kiryat Shemona 0:2 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17)
The Under-17 team were back in action after the National Team Tournament and defeated Kiryat Shemona up north on Matchday 18 of league play. Maccabi is in first place with a 12 point lead thanks to goals by Or Roizman and Niv Berkovic. Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the victory, “Another win as we look towards the final goal. We were missing some players and we had some Under-16 players with us who helped us to the victory. We’re happy with the win but not the quality of play. I felt the players were tired and were a little slow. We have two matches coming up against Ashdod and Petah Tikva who are strong sides. We’ll try to take the six points.”

Hapoel Raanana 1:1 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
After a win over Maccabi Herzliya last match, the Under-16 side visited Raanana on Matchday 19 as the squad’s split the points in a 1:1 draw. The young Yellow & Blue are in 3rd place and sit 4 points back from the top of the table as Dor David Turgeman scored for Maccabi. Head Coach Eran Sassi looked back at the match, “The first half was played at a high pace by both sides and we scored once despite a number of chances. We gave up a goal on a penalty that was questionable at best. We were the only team on the pitch in the second half and had numerous chances but we couldn’t find the back of the goal. The most important thing is to learn from the things we can do better as per the academy’s philosophy and get ready for the next match.”

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 8:2 Ironi Kiryat Gat (U15)
The Under-15 squad hosted Kiryat Gat on Matchday 18 and picked up the win to remain in first place. Ido Mizrahi x2, Oral Bahia x3, Liad Ramot, Nir Levi and Oskar Gluck all scored. Ori David looked back at the victory, “This match, like the last few we opened with a lot of intensity and we had many chances close to the goal. We scored fairly quickly which I am happy about and I’m content with the club’s attack. On the defensive side we’ve put a serious emphasis on the team play as well as the individual efforts in order to improve this aspect. In general I’m very happy and I’m looking forward to another week of training sessions as we prepare for an away match at Nes Ziona.”

The Under-19 side faced Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Derby on Matchday 19 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Guy Tzarfati’s charges began the day in 2nd place, 6 points off the top of the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva while the Reds were in 9th place.

Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glezer, Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shahar, Mufleh Shalata, Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Gil Ben Shalosh, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi began the match with a 2’ chance via Shalata who took the ball from the right and moved into the box, but his left footed shot was saved by the Hapoel keeper Ido Askafe. Ten minutes later Ilay Tamam’s opportunity for the Reds was parried away by Itzhak for a corner.

In the 25’ Amit Meir threatened the Maccabi goal from long distance but his attempt went over the bar, however, the next chance was for the Yellow & Blue and that one found the back of the goal. Shahar passed the ball to Nidam who sent it to Hen as he beat two defenders and the keeper to give Maccabi a 1:0 lead.

Hapoel almost found the equalizer 3 minutes later from a free kick but Itzhak reacted quickly as the ball hit the bar and Tzarfati’s squad was able to clear the danger. In the 39’ Hapoel, once again looked to draw even as Abdul Nagaev’s attempt hit the post but Davida’s 42’ opportunity knotted up the contest at 1:1 as his shot from outside the box beat Itzhak as the side’s headed into the break deadlocked.

Second Half
In the 55’ Maccabi had the first chance of the half when Hen’s attempt from the left side was saved by the Reds keeper while a minute later Cohen beat a defender but his shot was blocked by an active Askafe. Maccabi’s ensuing short corner to Mahluf was crossed into the box to Shtrozberg but Askafe again parried the ball away for a corner.

Hapoel’s 65’ free kick was cleared by Shtrozberg and Daniel Konitski’s chance was saved by Itzhak while five minutes later Cohen’s attempt towards the far corner missed the target and went by the post. Finally in the 79’ Maccabi took the lead as Shahar left the ball for Cohen who sent a gorgeous through pass to Guerrero who went one on one with the Reds keeper and beat Askafe to give the Yellow & Blue a 2:1 advantage.

In the 85’ Guerrero gave Yagudaev the ball on the left side but his attempt went out while five minutes later the Reds had a chance to draw even but came up short as Maccabi won the Derby and collected the three points.

The Under-19 side met Kiryat Shmona on Matchday 18 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Heading into the contest, Guy Tzarfati’s squad sat in 2nd place, 9 points off of the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva. Kiryat Shmona began the match in 3rd place as the last game between the two ended in a goalless draw.

Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glezer, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glezer, Mufleh Shalata, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Gil Ben Shalosh, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi controlled the pace of play from the outset and in the 18’ Tzarfati’s side almost took the lead when Tamir Glezer sent a brilliant through ball to Guerrero but Kiryat Shmona keeper Nadav Zamir made the save while a minute later at the other side of the pitch Abdallah Hilichel’s chance went over the goal.

The Yellow & Blue went ahead in the 21’ when Chilaka sent a ball from the right of the box to Guerrero who found the far corner for a 1:0 lead. Maccabi continued to maintain possession and had an opportunity to double their advantage in the 43’ but Tamir Glezer’s shot went over the bar as the half ended with Maccabi ahead 1:0.

Second Half
Gil Ben Shalosh headed the ball off a Shalata cross in the 50’ but Zamir was up to the task, however, two minutes later Maccabi beat the shot stopper when Shalata scored into the right corner of the box, 2:0 Yellow & Blue.

Tzaraft’s squad continued their goal scoring spree with their third in the 57’ as Hen put away Shalata’s pass, 3:0 Maccabi. Kiryat Shmona almost pulled a goal back in the 65’ however. Hilichel’s chance just cleared the bar, but three minutes later Hilichel scored to cut the Maccabi lead to 3:1.

Shalata’s 70’ chance from the right went over the goal and ten minutes later Kiryat Shmona had an opportunity but the ball went by the post as Maccabi “Shachar” wrapped up the victory.

The U19 International Winter Tournament that Maccabi Tel Aviv hosted at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom was again a smashing success as Maccabi “Shachar” were the winners of the competition for the second year in a row. Club CEO Ben Mansford and Performance Director Patrick van Leeuwen summed up the tournament and also spoke about the organization and support of the Academy.

After three wonderful days of football, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s U19 International Winter Tournament came to an end of Saturday as Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv raises the trophy for the second year in the row as champions of the competition. Guy Tzarfati’s side finished in first place in the group of 6 teams after defeating Crystal Palace (1:0) and S.B.V. Excelsior Rotterdam (3:1) handing them the title.

Watch the Championship Ceremony

Final Table

Watch the highlights of the Crystal Palace and S.B.V. Excelsior Rotterdam matches:

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:0 Crystal Palace

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 3:1 S.B.V. Excelsior Rotterdam

Other than the Yellow & Blue’s matches, a number of other contests took place at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom:

S.B.V. Excelsior Rotterdam 1:0 Maccabi Haifa (Raduan Hankori)
Hapoel Beer Sheva 3:0 Beitar Jerusalem (Abdallah Abi Abedx2, Lior Katav)
Maccabi Haifa 2:0 Hapoel Beer Sheva ((Stav Nachmani, Ilay Hagag)
Crystal Palace 2:2 Beitar Jerusalem (Palace David Boateng, Will Duncan. Beitar Roie Fadida, Roie Doda)

Check out today’s photos

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv won the U19 International Winter Tournament for the second straight year at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom thanks to a pair of victories on the final day of the of the competition.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:0 Crystal Palace
Eden Kartzev scored the lone goal of the contest in the first half. Eduardo Guerrero pressed the English keeper as Mufleh Shalata stole the ball and sent it to Kartzev who found the back of the goal for the eventual winner.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 3:1 S.B.V. Excelsior Rotterdam
In the day’s second match, Maccabi “Shachar” made sure to end the tournament on a high note by defeating the Dutch club 3:1 to win the competition for the second year in a row.

Maccabi opened the match well and scored in the 9’ when Rave Assayag took advantage of a poor clearing attempt and sent the ball to Bar Cohen who beat the keeper. However, Excelsior drew even before the break at Nelson Bashir scored against the Yellow & Blue keeper, 1:1.

Although a draw would have been enough for Maccabi to win the tourney, Eyal Hen scored in the 43’ from a 16 meter free kick after it hit the Dutch wall and went into the goal. Assayag then completed a brace thanks to an assist by Bar Cohen off a free kick as the former beat the Excelsior keeper to give Maccabi a 3:1 win.