State Cup: Maccabi face Maccabi Jaffa in QF

After a successful week in State Cup competition, Maccabi's Youth Division returned to league duties this Saturday. Here follow all the goals and results

Saturday proved a busy day for the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, with head coach Arie Ziv's Under-19s stealing the headlines with an impressive 3-0 home win against Nes Ziona at Ramla municipal stadium that returned them to winning ways. Providing the goals were Congolese striker Mavis Tchibota, midfielder Eliel Peretz and striker Raz Yitzhak. The win kept "Shachar" joint top of the national U19 Premier League table, leading title rivals Maccabi Haifa on goal difference. Next week will see them face tough opposition at Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

Maccabi's Under-17s also turned in an impressive performance as they beat Bnei Sakhnin 2-0 at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Roy Ronen and Omer Lakao contributed "Oded"'s two goals that returned head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's squad to the top of the national U17 Premier League. Next week they'll head off to the nation's capital to face Beitar Jerusalem. The club's Under-16  were less fortunate on Saturday, losing to Ashdod FC 2-1. Nonetheless head coach Shlomi Mitelka's lads stay top of the nationwide U16 League South table.

The club's Under-15 Team 1 registered a handsome 5-1 home win against Beitar Tel Aviv – Ramla. Goals for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" came courtesy of a hat-trick by Leon Gardashov and individual efforts by Raz Hadar and Shla'ata Muflach. The win keeps coaches Eyal Tzachi and Oded Barnea's side top of the nationwide U15 Central District League table with two games in hand. Eyal Chen and Omer Brami were the goalscorers as coaches Erez Belfer and Roei Talmor's Under-15 Team 2 fought out a 2-2 draw away at Maccabi Haifa. 

After a successful week in State Cup competition, Maccabi's Youth Division returned ...

After celebrating two State Cup wins last Wednesday, the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division will return to league duties this Saturday with a number of exciting fixtures on the programme. Here follows a summary

This Saturday, in gameweek 25 of the national U19 Premier League, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will welcome their counterparts from Sektzia Nes Ziona, who are currently languishing in fifteenth place in the table. The match will be played at Ramla's municipal stadium with the kick-off scheduled for 11.30am. Head coach Ziv Arie's "Shachar" go into the match after a 1-0 loss last week at Hapoel Beer Sheva that left them level at the top of the table with title rivals Maccabi Haifa and leading them on goal difference alone. The joint leaders are scheduled to face off in two weeks' time.

After two consecutive league victories and an impressive win over Beitar Jerusalem that advanced them to the U17 State Cup finals last Wednesday, head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" will host Bnei Sakhnin at the Kiryat Shalom training ground for an 11am kick-off. Head coach Shlomi Mitelka's Under-16s will try to maintain the momentum of five consecutive league victories when they set out on Saturday to face Ashdod FC at 11.30am. With a number of squad members having just returned from a tournament in Italy, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", the club's Under-15 Team 1, will host Beitar Tel Aviv–Ramla at Kiryat Shalom at noon. Their counterparts from Team 2 will travel up the coast to face Maccabi Haifa at their "Ketzef" training ground at 11am.

A second Maccabi Youth Division Team to have won their State Cup competition last Wednesday, the Under-14 Team South, will head in the opposite direction for an early 9am kick-off against Ashdod FC with a view to closing the three-point gap with title rivals Maccabi Haifa. Much like the Under-15 Team 2, coaches Nissim Dvash and Tamir Shamir's Under-14 Team North will also be playing in Haifa on Saturday afternoon at 3pm, in their case against the red half of the city, Hapoel Haifa. Maccabi's Under-13 Team North will host Bnei Yehuda for a "little derby" at Kiryat Shalom at 10.15am, with Team South welcoming Maccabi Shoham to their Hadar Yosef playing field at the same hour.

After celebrating two State Cup wins last Wednesday, the Maccabi Tel Aviv ...

Gala day for the Youth Division as both U15 teams win their State Cup semis to guarantee an all-Maccabi final!

The Youth Division enjoyed a victorious afternoon as both Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" and the Under-15 Team  2 passed the hurdle of the State Cup semi-finals to set up the mouth-watering prospect of an all-Maccabi U15 State Cup final.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" beat Maccabi Petach Tikva 5-4 on penalties after the two sides finished the 90 minutes deadlocked in a goalless draw. "We played a good match and created a lot of good chances," said head coach Eyal Tzachi after the match. "The better team won and now at least Maccabi are guaranteed the trophy".

The Under-15 Team 2 won their semi-final encounter 3-1 in a derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv. Sahar Barabi, Eden Kartsev and Gil Rahimi were the goalscorers for Erez Belfer's side. After the match the head coach had this to say: "We played good football. We were aggressive, determined and deserved to win the tie. And now that "Eldad" have also won their semi-final we can rest assured that the trophy will be in Maccabi hands".

Gala day for the Youth Division as both U15 teams win their ...

Another busy weekend in the Youth Division. Here's all the action

The Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division teams were all in action this Saturday, and with the exception of one loss and one draw, every one of them emerged victorious. Head coach Ziv Arie's Under-19s faced tough opposition at Hapoel Beer Sheva and despite dominating throughout failed to recover from a one-goal deficit and finished at the wrong end of a 1-0 result. "Shachar" are still on top of the U19 Premier League, but now only on goal difference from second-placed Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi's Under-17s also dropped points on Saturday when their away tie at Ironi Kiryat Shmona ended in a goalless draw. The result leaves them in second place in the U17 Premier League, two points behind Maccabi Haifa. The club's Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", booked an emphatic win at home, beating Hapoel Jerusalem 6-1 at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Zamir Ron scored a hat-trick, Desalin Balacho a brace and Nadav Reuveny added an individual effort. The impressive victory cements their place atop the nationwide U16 League South.

Maccabi's two Under-15 teams are on the threshold of making club history after both succeeded mid-week in reaching the finals of the U15 State Cup competition and will face one another mid-April for the right to hoist the prestigious State Cup trophy. And on Saturday, both continued to get good results. Coaches Eyal Tzachi and Oded Barnea's Team 1 beat Ironi Modi'in 2-1 at home courtesy of goals by Muflah Shalata and Raz Hadar. Team 2 also won at Kiryat Shalom, scoring three goals without conceding in their 3-0 win over Maccabi Herzliya Hadar.  Shachar Eyelon Drucker, Eyal Chen and Yuval Levin were the goalscorers.

One of the Division's best results of the weekend came from coaches Ori David and Aviv Rein's Under-14 Team South, who outran fellow title-chasers Maccabi Haifa 0-5 away. Five different players contributed to the rout – Omri Ram, Tal Binyamin Yagudaev, Osher Davida, Bar Cohen, and Menahem Mendel Asraf. The win brings them level with their northern namesakes at the top of the U14 League Central District in what looks like becoming a title race that will go right down to the wire. The club's Under-14 Team North, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shlomo", beat Maccabi Emek Heffer 1-2 away on goals by Amit Ya'akov and Dan Lugasi.

Last but by no means least, Maccabi's Under-13 Team South beat Sektzia Nes Tsiona 0-2 away and are now only three points off the pace in the nationwide U13 League Central District. Head coach Kfir Alfonte's Under-13 Team North brought home the Youth Division's biggest results of the weekend, overwhelming Hapoel Rishon Lezion 7-1 at home. Niv Berkovitch  Lazar both scored braces, Mor Kochav, Afek Sapir-Nevot and Ro'I Ma'ayan all added on.

Another busy weekend in the Youth Division. Here's all the action

Maccabi's U19s will be out to strengthen their lead at the top of the league at a difficult away tie against Hapoel Beer Sheva

The Under-19 Premier League season is entering its final phase with just seven matches to go till the end of the season. With a lead of just three points at the top of the table, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shachar" will head south for a difficult but crucial tie against an up-and-coming Hapoel Beer Sheva, with a live broadcast on Israeli sports channel 55 at 3pm. Half an hour earlier Maccabi's Under -17s will also be facing tough opposition away, but at the northern end of the country against Ironi Kiryat Shmona. At the start of gameweek 25, Eliezer Ben Aharon's squad sit second behind Maccabi Haifa in the national Under-17 Premier League table, but on goal difference only and with a game in hand.

Nationwide U16 League South leaders Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" will welcome second from bottom Hapoel Jerusalem to Kiryat Shalom training ground at 10am. After winning their respective mid-week State Cup semi-final ties to set up an all-Maccabi final, both of the club's Under-15 teams will return to league duties on Saturday. At 12.30pm Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" will travel  to Ironi Modi'in and Under-15 Team 2 will have the early 8.30 kick-off at Kiryat Shalom against Maccabi Herzliya.

Both of Maccabi's Under-14 teams play away on Saturday, Team South at Maccabi Haifa's "Ketzef" training ground at 11am and Team North against Emek Heffer in Givat Haim at 8.30am. The club's Under-13 Team North will welcome Hapoel Rishon Lezion to the synthetic pitch at Kiryat Shalom at noon while the Under-13 Team South will play away at Sektzia Nes Tziona at 9am in the morning. 

Maccabi's U19s will be out to strengthen their lead at the top ...

Maccabi's U14 Team South recorded their ninth consecutive victory as the U13 derby ends in a goal-packed draw

After Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s defeated Beitar Jerusalem on Saturday morning, it came as a disappointment that Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" were knocked out of the U16 State Cup competition at the quarter-final stage after losing 2-1 to Maccabi Haifa at their "Ketzef" training ground. The home side jumped to a 1-0 lead after just twelve minutes but six minutes from the break Eden Kartsev restored Maccabi Tel Aviv's hopes of victory with an equaliser, his sixth goal of the season. The stalemate lasted until the hour mark when Maccabi Haifa scored their second, the final goal in a game that sent the hosts into the semi-finals at "Eli Fuchs"'s expense.

Head coach Eyal Tzachi's Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", had a far easier time with Hapoel Beer Sheva, beating their opponents comprehensively 5-2 in gameweek 19 of the nationwide U15 League Central District. The home side were first to get on the scoreboard courtesy of an early goal by Adir Hardon. The visitors briefly managed to turn the match around in the first half, but the second half belonged to "Eldad" alone as Tal Daon scored a hat-trick to bring his season total to 20 goals in all competitions. Maccabi's fifth came courtesy of a Beer Sheva own goal. Head coach Erez Belfer's Under-15 Team 2 were also in celebratory mood after a 0-2 away win at Hapoel Petch Tikva in their nationwide U15 League Sharon District gameweek 19 fixture. Yam Ben Yehuda and Tomer Tzitrin contributed the goals in what was the team's fifth win in their last six outings.

Maccabi's Under-14 Team South hammered Hapoel Rishon Lezion 7-0 at Kiryat Shalom to book their ninth consecutive win, with seven individual players finding the net. Not to be outdone, their Team North counterparts reached double figures in their jaw-dropping 12-0 victory over Nesher FC. In the nationwide U13 Central District League the two Maccabi teams, North and South, played out a derby of the quality we've come to expect from the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division, with both sides scoring four times in a goal-packed 4-4 draw.  

Maccabi's U14 Team South recorded their ninth consecutive victory as the U13 ...

Maccabi's U19s will host Beitar Jerusalem, the U16s hope to advance to the State Cup semi-finals

After having last week failed to score for the first time this season in a goalless draw against Maccabi Netanya, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under-19s will attempt to get their title aspirations back on track when they host Beitar Jerusalem at the Ramla municipal stadium on Saturday in a match to be broadcast on Israeli sports channel 55 starting at noon. The club's Under-16s will have a break from league duties to play their State Cup quarter-final tie at Maccabi Haifa's "Ketzef" training ground at 1.15pm.

Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 will host Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground's artificial pitch at 11am with a view to maintaining their six-point advantage atop the nationwide U15 League Central District table. Head coach Erez Belfer's Under-15 Team 2 will be looking to stay in good form when they play away to Hapoel Petach Tikva at Sirkin Field at 8.30am in gameweek 19 of the nationwide U15 League Sharon District.

Head coach Ori David's Under-14 Team South will have the early kick-off at Kiryat Shalom's artificial pitch when they welcome Hapoel Rishon Lezion at 9am on Saturday. The Under-14 Team North will open the afternoon on the same pitch when they host Nesher FC at 12.45pm. Finally, the nationwide U13 League Central District will serve up a Maccabi derby when Team North greet Team South at the Hadar Yosef playing field at 8.30am.   

Maccabi's U19s will host Beitar Jerusalem, the U16s hope to advance to ...

Another Saturday of goals and victories galore in Maccabi's Youth Division

Saturday's slate of Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division fixtures began with the Under-17s, who played their game in hand at Ashdod FC and turned it into a 1-11 rout. Ofri Mashta led the assault with a hat-trick, but three different Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" players scored a brace each: Omer Lakao, Almog Eylon and Ron Gabay. Ran Vaturi and Lenny Aharon rounded off the scoring and helped head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's team to climb to the top of the national U17 Premier League table, a point ahead of title rivals Maccabi Haifa, with nine games left to the season.

Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" were able to maintain their pre-eminence in the nationwide U16 League South table courtesy of a 0-5 away win at Maccabi Shoham. Neil Goldberg scored twice, Prince Thomas and Rom Wasserman once each, with a Shoham own goal completing the impressive scoreline that sends head coach Shlomi Mitelka's lads three points clear of nearest rivals Maccabi Petach Tikva. Despite playing out a 3-3 draw against Hapoel Jerusalem, Maccabi's Under-15 Team 1 also managed to hold on to the top spot in the nationwide U15 Central District table, albeit with a decreased six-point margin ahead of Jerusalem's second U15 team, Beitar. All three of Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad"'s goals were scored by Muflah Shla'ata.

But it wasn't only league duties that occupied the Youth Division on Saturday, as a number of the teams were also involved in contests for advancement to the final stages of their respective State Cup competitions. Head coach Ori David's Under-14 Team South booked their place in the semi-finals after a 4-1 home win against Beitar Jerusalem. Tal Yagudaev produced a hat-trick and Omri Ram added the fourth for the home side. Maccabi's Under-14 Team North also passed their quarter-final test, but in far more dramatic fashion. They were hosted by Hapoel Ra'anana and at the end of regulation time the scoreboard showed three goals for each side. Only in the ensuing penalty shoot-out did head coach Asaf Profeta's charges succeed in showing their superiority, overturning a 3-3 draw in favour of a 4-2 triumph. The only Youth Division team to see their advance in State Cup competition halted were the Under 13 Team North, who succumbed to Maccabi Haifa 3-6.

Another Saturday of goals and victories galore in Maccabi's Youth Division

This Saturday the U17s face a real challenge, while the younger teams look to reach the State Cup semi-finals

After restoring normal service last Saturday with their sixteenth league win of the season, Maccabi's Under-19s will this week head out to face Maccabi Netanya at "Shapira" Field at 11.30am and try to hold on to their five-point lead at the top of the U19 Premier League table. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" are looking at a busy week that includes playing two fixtures in the space of as many days. On Saturday the club's Under-17s travel north to face Nesher FC at 11am and on Monday they'll play their game in hand against Hapoel Beer Sheva at the Kiryat Shalom training ground at 4pm. If they can win both of those matches, "Oded" will regain the top spot in the national U17 Premier League table.

Maccabi's Under-16s, leaders of the nationwide U16 League South table, will be looking to hold on to that lead when they face bottom-of-table Maccabi Shoham away at 11.45am. Both of Maccabi's Under-15 teams are playing tricky ties on Saturday. Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldar", have a 9am appointment at Kiryat Yovel playing field to face Hapoel Jerusalem and Team 2 welcome title rivals Maccabi Netanya to the artificial pitch at Kiryat Shalom at 8.30am.

Maccabi's younger competitors will all be focused on State Cup ties on Saturday. The Under-14 Team South will host their counterparts from Beitar Jerusalem at Kiryat Shalom at 10.15am for a battle for a place in the semi-finals.  The club's Under-13 teams will face the same challenge, Team South at 11am at Maccabi Haifa's "Ketzef" training complex and Team North at 8.30am at Hapoel Ra'anana.    

This Saturday the U17s face a real challenge, while the younger teams ...

Five of Maccabi's U19s joined in a unique showcase match at the Israel Sport Centre for the Disabled in Ramat Gan

Last night a very special meeting took place between the Youth Division of Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club and the "Spivak" Sport Centre for the Disabled in Ramat Gan. The "Spivak" Centre is designed to answer the functional needs, both physical and social, of disabled people throughout the centre of Israel and does service as both a sports and a social framework. Only days before the Jewish festival of Purim, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Youth Division were invited to visit the centre and meet Israel's national wheelchair rugby team. Representing the division were five players from the club's Under-19s: Captain Dan Glazer, Idan Yogev, Sahar Hason, Yonatan Cohen and Eliad Graf. They were joined by the Division's football director Nir Levin and educational consultant Chen Abdu.

Highlight of the evening was a showcase match with Israel's national wheelchair rugby team. Beforehand Mr Levin welcomed the collaboration between Maccabi and the Centre for the Disabled, and the U19 squad members presented token gifts and special Maccabi Tel Aviv gift items to their counterparts from the national wheelchair rugby team. In recognition of the upcoming Purim holiday, educational consultant Chen Abdu presented the centre with a traditional Purim gift food package, put together by Youth Division players themselves.

Since the 2000 paralympic games in Sydney, Australia, wheelchair rugby has been one of the sports included in the competition's programme, the objective being to get the ball beyond the opponent's goal line for a try. Before the match the Maccabi youngsters received detailed instructions on how to play from the national team's players and then were given the opportunity to get used to manoeuvring the wheelchairs before getting on with the game. Despite their upcoming busy fixture schedule, including a mid-week derby in the quarter finals of the U19 State Cup competition, the Maccabi Under-19s proved enthusiastic and engaged competitors. In the end they failed in their attempts to score a try but at the final whistle there was a discernible feeling of camaraderie and of course smiles all around.

Maccabi's educational consultant Chen Abdu summed things up: "Bonds with the community are extremely important to us. Equally important is that our young players are exposed to the experiences of others by making acquaintance with institutions like this one. Activities like the ones held today contribute not only to us but to the institutions themselves as well. Our goal is to make the participants at our Youth Division not only better players, but better human beings as well, who accept the differences that exist between people and at the same time understand those difference too. This day at the "Spivak" Centre is the latest in a series of activities designed to infuse our youngsters with those values we as a club aspire to, like patience, tolerance and mutual respect".      

Five of Maccabi's U19s joined in a unique showcase match at the ...