The Under-19 club hosted Hapoel Raanana on Matchday 8 of the Israel Youth Premier League as the young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 3rd place with 4 wins and 3 draws. Raanana began the day in the 7th place with 3 straight draws.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster (C), Rave Assayag, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
In the 8’ a through ball made it’s way to Assayag but his shot went over the goal while three minutes later the visitor’s had their first chance of the contest as Golan Beni took the ball in the box, but his attempt deflected off a Maccabi defender and went out for a corner. Beni had another opportunity in the 14’ but his attempt went out, while a minute later Chilaka sent the ball to Cohen but his attempt went over the bar. Four minutes later Cohen took a Lugassi pass and made it by two defenders, but his chance just missed the goal.

Guerrero had the ball in the 23’ but his shot was saved by Ariel Mesika, while 11 minutes later Hen took the ball on the right wing and sent it into the box to Cohen but his chance was again stopped by Mesika. Guerrero’s 35’ long distance opportunity missed the goal and just before the break Raanana’s Roie Levy’s attempt from inside the box was cleared to safety by the Maccabi defense as the match remained deadlocked at 0:0 after 45 minutes.

Second Half
The visitor’s received a penalty in the 47’ which Levy converted to give Raanana a 1:0 lead after Shtrozberg and a Raanana player tangled up in the Maccabi box and the referee awarded the spot kick. In the 63’ Tal Yagudaev, who had come on as a substitute took the ball in the middle of the pitch, moved forward towards the Raanana area, but his 20’ meter attempt missed the target. Three minutes later Guerrero found another substitute Gil Ben Shalosh at the top of the area but his opportunity missed the goal.

Following chance after chance, Guerrero found the back of the goal in the 82’ for Maccabi when Omri Ram went down the right side and crossed a beauty of a ball to the striker who put home the equalizer, 1:1. The Yellow & Blue pressed for a winner and almost found one four minutes later when Ben Shalosh’s chance was batted away by Mesika. However, as the match went into injury time, Guerrero put away another Ram cross to give Maccabi a 2:1 win and the 3 points.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Raanana, 11:30 Ramle (U19)
Just ahead of the send leg against Anzhi Makhachkala in UEFA Youth League action on Wednesday, the Under-19 squad will host Hapoel Raanana on Matchday 8 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blue are in 3rd place just one point off the top of the table while Raanana finds itself in 7th with 3 straight draws.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17) are off due to an International break for the European Championship qualifiers. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad has 5 representatives with the team.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Ashdod, 9:00 Kiryat Shalom 1 (U16)
After getting back onto the winning track last week against Netanya, the Under-16 team host’s first place Ashdod on Matchday 8. The Yellow & Blue will look to keep up the positive momentum and hand the visitor’s their first defeat of the season.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Maccabi Haifa, 10:30 Kiryat Shalom Synthetic (U15)
The Under-15 side host’s Haifa on Matchday 6 as they find themselves in 3rd place just two points off the top of the table. The Greens are in 11th place with a single victory.

Beitar Tubruk 0:2 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
The Under-19 squad got back onto the winning track with an away win at Tubruk on Matchday 7 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Goals by Rave Assayag and Tal Yagudaev sealed the victory for Guy Tzarfati’s side as they currently find themselves in 3rd place just one point off the top of the table. For the full Match Report Click Here.

Hapoel Beer Sheva 0:3 Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17)
Eliezer Ben Aharon’s Under-17 team continued their positive momentum with a win on Matchday 8. Maccabi “Oded” is in 1st place with a five point lead after the victory in Beer Sheva. Shaked Navon scored a first half goal thanks to an assist by Shachar Rosen while Ben Moasayif stopped a penalty at the start of of the second half to keep the young Yellow & Blue in the lead. Tal Torjman doubled the score as Yali Lazar picked up the assist while Navon scored his second of the contest off an assist by Nehoray Bitton. Ben Eliezer summed up the important win: “We were able to record a victory at one of the toughest stadiums against a very good and aggressive opponent. The path to the championship goes through Beer Sheva and we bore down to take the 3 points home. Some of the players are drastically improving and that can be seen as six of them will be playing with the National Team with 4 of them being new. I want to wish the U17 National Team successful in the upcoming European Championship Qualifiers. We will be on break for the next three weeks, we will get back together and continue to improve the players and the club.”

Maccabi Netanya 1:3 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
The Under-16 team got back onto the winning track on Matchday 7 as goals by Ener Oshmandi and Aviv Peles helped the Yellow & Blue to the win. Head Coach Eran Sassi summed up the game, “We played an excellent first half and we had many opportunities which helped us to a 3:0 lead at the break. The pace of play moved down a notch in the second half and we allowed the opponent a number of dangerous chances. We’ll take the good things and look ahead.”

Beitar Jerusalem 0:1 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv (U15)
The Under-15 squad recorded a win at Jerusalem on Matchday 5 of League play. Oskar Gloch scored the lone goal of the contest to keep the team in first place. Head Coach Ori David spoke about the win: “We won this match with a lot of character on a very tough pitch to play on. We handled the 50/50 chances very well and we had many chances near the goal that we didn’t take advantage of, but I’m very content that we played as one unit.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visited Beitar Tubruk on Matchday 7 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue began the day undefeated and in 3rd place while the host’s were in 13th position with one league victory.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shachar, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
In the 8’ Maccabi came close to finding the back of the goal when Cohen sent Assayag a nice through ball into the box but at the last second a Tubruk defender cleared the threat however, in the 17’ the host’s wouldn’t be so lucky. Left back Mahluf began by passing the ball to Assayag who took a slammed home the opening strike of the contest from the air into the corner of the goal for a 1:0 Maccabi lead.

Tubruk almost drew even three minutes later when midfielder Michael Shriki took a shot from the top of the box, but the ball got tangled up in the Maccabi defense while in the 22’ a Yellow & Blue counter attack saw Hen take a through ball and crossed it to Guerrero but the latter just missed the target. In the 25’ Beitar tried their luck to no avail and a minute later Itzhak made an brilliant save off of Netanel Morris who unleashed a blast from just 6 meters out.

Right halftime, Cohen sent the ball to Hen on the left wing, cut to the middle but his chance went out while a set free kick play by the host’s left Roie Amos all alone in front of the Maccabi goal but his attempt went out as the Yellow & Blue took a 1:0 lead into the break.

Second Half
Adi Vaknin tried to find the equalizer in the 49’ but Hofmayster was able to block the ball while three minutes later Cohen’s opportunity was cleared by Amos. In the 58’ Tubruk almost drew even but Morris’s header went over the goal and in the 65’ the visitor’s hit the bar off a dangerous free kick.

In the 70’ Tubruk again almost found the equalizer when Niv Alfi took the ball in the box and sent a shot that Itzhak saved to keep the score as is while five minutes later Omri Ram who had come in as a substitute for Maccabi sent the ball towards the goal, but the host defense cleared the threat. In the 77’ Ram again was at the center of attention when he took the ball in the middle of the pitch raced into the box and from a sharp angle took a shot on goal but Maoz the Tubruk keeper was the save.

Two minutes later substitute Tamir Glazer tried his luck from long distance to no avail but the rebound went to Gil Ben Shalosh who passed the ball to Cohen but his chance went out. In the 82’ Chilaka sent a through ball to Ben Shalosh but his attempt was taken care of my Maoz and three minutes later a pair of substitutes, Nadav Nidam and Tal Yagudaev teamed up for a chance but the latter’s attempt was blocked by Moaz. Just before the final whistle Yagudaev made no mistake when he put the ball into the corner of the Tubruk goal to wrap up a 2:0 Maccabi win.

Beitar Tubruk – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 10:30 Netanya, Tubruk (U19)
After a midweek draw against Hapoel Ramat Gan, the young Yellow & Blue will look to get back onto the winning track away at Tubruk on Mathcday 7 of the Israel Youth Football League. Guy Tzarfati’s squad is in 3rd place while the host’s find themselves in 13th.

Last Week’s Youth Academy Action:

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 10:30 Wasermil Stadium (U17)
The U17 squad heads to a tricky away tilt at Beer Sheva on Matchday 8 of League play. The young Yellow & Blue are at the top of the table while the southern side is in 7th after losing last match.

Maccabi “Rafael” Netanya – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 10:30 Netanya Shapira (U16)
The club’s Under-16 team visits Netanya on Matchday 7 of league action and sit in 7th place while the host’s are in 14th with a lone league win.

Beitar “Gadi” Jerusalem – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 8:45 Bayit Vegan 2 Upper Synthetic Jerusalem (U15)
After a win last week, the U15’s head to the capital city on Matchday 5 and will look to continue their fine play against Beitar.

The Under-19 squad hosted Hapoel Ramat Gan on Matchday 6 of the Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 2nd place and undefeated whole Hapoel Ramat Gan were in second to last place on the table with one win.

Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shachar, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster (C), Bar Cohen, Tal Yagudaev and Eduardo Guerrero.

First Half
The Yellow & Blue began the match strong and in the 2’ left back Mahluf received the ball on the left wing but sent his shot out while 7 minutes later, Ramat Gan tried their luck when Hod Mesika’s long distance chance went over the goal. In the 10’ Shachar’s shot also went over the bar.

Maccabi continued to attack and in the 27’ Hofmayster took the ball on the left wing and sent a gorgeous cross into the box, but Guerrero couldn’t get to the ball in time as it went out. A minute later Cohen was able to get the ball over the Ramat Gan defense but Shachar’s acrobatic shot from the air was saved when Yuval Sadeh was just able to get his fingertips on the ball to send it to safety. In the 37’ Mesika’s opportunity went out as the half ended goalless.

Second Half
In the 50’ Cohen’s free kick went by the post while five minutes later, the same Cohen sent a through ball over the defenders and Shalata was able to get a foot on the ball, however, the ball sent over the bar. Tzarfati’s squad had a great chance to score when Cohen again placed a perfect through ball to Yagudaev who sent it to Guerrero it his opportunity went out.

As the match headed into the 68’, Mahluf sent Guerrero a fantastic ball who in turn handed it off to Rave Assayag who had come on as a substitute, but couldn’t get his foot on the ball. Two minutes later Cohen’s free kick hit the post and in the 75’ the Yellow & Blue were reduced to 10 men when Shtrozberg was issued a straight red card as he stopped a Hapoel Ramat Gan player as he made his way towards the goal

In the 80’ a long range shot almost beat Itzhak, but the shot stopper was just able to deflect the ball off of the post and it went out for a corner. Ten minutes later as the match wound down, Asaf Hershko who had come on as a substitute had a chance from long range but the ball went out as the side’s split the points in a a goalless draw.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Ramat Gan, October 9th, 18:00 at Ramle (U19)
After falling to Anzhi 3:2 in Russia in UEFA Youth Champions League play, Guy Tzarfati’s squad will return to Israel Youth Premier League action on Tuesday on Matchday 6 against Hapoel Ramat Gan.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Bnei Sakhnin, 11:00 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U17)
After a midweek 6:3 win over Beitar Jerusalem the Under-17’s return home to face Bnei Sakhnin on Matchday 7 of League play. The Yellow & Blue are in first place while the visitor’s sit in 10th.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Beitar Tubruk, 9:00 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U16)
Beitar Tubruk pays a visit to Maccabi’s Under-16 squad on Matchday 6 as they’ll look to get back onto the winning track. A victory will move the Under-16 side ahead of Tubruk on the table.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Sektzia Nes Ziona, 8:30 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U15)
After a midweek 3:3 draw against Kiryat Gat, the Under-15 team will look to get back to their winning ways at home on Matchday 4 of league action. Nes Ziona currently finds themselves in last place with 3 losses in as many games.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv began their Youth Champions League journey when they fell to Anzhi Makhachkala 3:2 in the first leg of their two legged tie.

The UEFA Champions League Domestic Champions Path is a knockout tournament. Should the young Yellow & Blue advance two stages they will appear in the Playoff Stage where the Domestic Champions Path and Group Stage Path will meet.

Maccabi “Shachar” Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Yoav Hofmayster, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glazer (C), Mufleh Shalata, Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi’s first chance came in the 8’ when Shalata received the ball on the right side but his cross was cleared while 4’ minutes later Tzarfati’s squad had an attempt when Chilaka tried his luck from long distance but the ball hit Shalata and went out.

Shalata was dangerous again in the 13’ when he went by a defender on the right side but the Anzhi keeper Timur Magomedov was able to clear the threat. The Russian side had a chance in the 25’ it their cross was cleared. The next opportunity was Maccabi’s and they made sure to take full advantage of it.

In the 36’ Cohen’s right side free kick found Guerrero’s head in the box as the Panamanian sent the ball behind Magomedov for a 1:0 advantage. The final ten minutes of the half was spent primarily in the midfield as the young Yellow & Blue took the slim lead into the break.

Second Half
Anzhi was able to quickly draw even in the 49’ when Magomednabi Yagyayev found the goal after the ball deflected off of Chilaka, 1:1. But just three minutes later, the Yellow & Blue regained the lead when Chillaka passed the ball to Shalata who beat his defender as sent a perfect shot into the far corner, 2:1 Maccabi.

Anzhi almost evened up the match in the 62’ but Itzhak made the initial save off of Valentin Andyamov‘s chance while the rebound attempt was sent over the goal. Itzhak was up to the task yet again in the 66’ making the alert stop on Yagyayev. However, in the 70’ they did draw even when a corner kick made its way into the Maccabi area and Alikadi Saidov scored from in close, 2:2.

In the 74’ Gil Ben Shalosh who had come on as a substitute took a chance from long distance but Magomedov made the save but nine minutes later at the other end of the pitch Anzhi took a 3:2 advantage. Gamid Agalarov took the ball at midfield, moved up on the left side and sent a shot into the back of the goal as the Russians took the lead for the first time in the contest which they held until full time.

Maccabi “Shachar Tel Aviv, the Israel Youth Premier League Champions headed to Russia to play Anzhi Makhachkala in the Youth Champions League. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the match will begin at 17:30 Israel time will be the first leg of a two legged knockout round tie in UEFA Champions League Domestic Champions Path knockout stage action. Today the squad held their final training session ahead of the contest. Should the young Yellow & Blue advance two stages they will appear in the Playoff Stage where the Domestic Champions Path and Group Stage Path will meet.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about the upcoming tie:
“I am very excited and proud. To be able to play in a European competition like the Champions League is an amazing accomplishment and achievement.”

Preparations for the competition:
“We prepared as we usually do ahead of this match. We look at the team that we are facing and give the players the correct tools as we do before any match.”

Expectations for the match:
“We want to go as far as possible in the competition and therefore are preparing for each match one by one just as we are doing for the contest in Russia. I’m happy that the players will have this type of experience and I hope that it will be a positive one.”

Domestic Champions path guide
This path involves the domestic youth champions of the 32 best-ranked associations in the 2017 UEFA association coefficient rankings (the same rankings used to decide access to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League).
Vacancies in the domestic champions path (because a club is instead eligible for the UEFA Champions League path, for example Atlético and Inter) are filled by the domestic youth champion of the next best-ranked association (in the above cases, Moldova and Iceland).
Chelsea, who won this competition in 2014/15 and 2015/16 but lost last season’s final to Barcelona, enter this path.
Two-time semi-finalists Anderlecht keep up their record of entering all six editions.
Debuts: AEL Limassol, Anji, Bohemians, FC Admira, Hamilton Academical, Hertha Berlin, Illés Akadémia, Lech Poznań, KR, Montpellier, Septemvri Sofia, Signa Olomouc, Žilina.

Road to Nyon
Play-offs
In the draw on 17 December, the eight Domestic Champions path survivors will be drawn at home to the eight UEFA Champions League path runners-up in one-off ties to be played on 12/13 February to decide the eight remaining round of 16 berths. The other eight places are taken by the UEFA Champions League path group winners.
Dates
Play-off draw: 17 December
Play-offs: 19/20 February
Knockout draw (round of 16 onwards): 22 February
Round of 16: 12/13 February
Quarter-finals: 2/3 April
Semi-final: 26 April, Nyon
Final: 29 April, Nyon