Memorial Day ceremony at the Youth Academy

Maccabi march on with a comfortable 2-0 win at Ra’anana

Daniel Tenebaum keeps another clean sheet as Vladimir Ivic’s boys register their seventh league victory of the campaign. Watch the highlight

Goals from Chico Ofoedu (10) and Yonatan Cohen (74) led Maccabi Tel Aviv to a 2-0 victory over struggling Hapoel Ra’anana in the ninth round of the Israel Premier League.

Goalkeeper Daniel Tenebaum kept another clean sheet to extend his outstanding record of not conceding a league goal to a highly impressive 810 minutes. It took Maccabi just 10 minutes to break the deadlock as Dan Glazer released Chiekluda Ofoeduwith a clever pass and the Nigerian scored with a powerful shot from the edge of the area. 

Maccabi created further chances as Eyal Golasa – on his first appearance in a year – saw his shot slide wide of the post and Enric Saborit hit the woodwork.

Golasa came off for Ruslan Barsky shortly after the interval as Ra’anana pressed, and they came close to finally beating Tenenbaum as Yoav Tomer’s shot deflected off a defender and rattled the crossbar.  

But Maccabi sealed the points in the 74th minute when a well worked goal involving seven players was neatly finished by Cohen who fired past Ra’anana keeper Assaf Tzur. 

The win sees Maccabi go six points clear at the top of the table with fellow championship hopefuls Maccabi Haifa and Hapoel Beersheba yet to play their ninth games.

After the game coach Vladimir Ivic was said he was pleased with today’s performance. “We started well and got the early goal, created chances and we were in control of the game.bWe were not as dominant in the early stages of the second half and Ra’anana came at us, but we finished with confidence after the second goal went in. I am happy with the three points.”

Goals from Chico Ofoedu (10) and Yonatan Cohen (74) led ...

Draw and two wins for juniors

Maccabi Tel Aviv's three junior sides continued their unbeaten runs on Saturday and added to the youth team's victory as the B and C sides won and the A side registered a goalless draw

All three junior teams played away fixtures on Saturday and the A team, Maccabi “Oded,” were held to a goalless draw by their hosts, Maccabi Netanya. The Maccabi boys’ winning streak may have been halted, but they have temporarily, at least, retained the lead in their division with 16 points from seven matches. Maccabi Haifa, who are second in the table with 15 points, have a game in hand and will play on Tuesday against city rivals Hapoel Haifa.

The B team, Maccabi Eli Fuchs, came back from Hapoel Ramat Gan with a 3-1 win. Lior Aloni put Maccabi ahead in the fourth minute and two more goals by Orel Baya in the 22nd and 41st minute put the result beyond doubt even though the hosts scored a late consolation goal. The boys lead their division with 22 points from 10 matches.

The C team, Maccabi “Eldad” also won 3-1 at Hapoel Beersheba in a preview of sorts for the big game on Monday. It was their second consecutive win. Beersheba took an early lead but goals by Agam Hanoun in the 38th and 40th minutes and a third by Michael Merenstein in the 75th secured the win. The boys are in third place in their division with 12 points from four games.

All three junior teams played away fixtures on Saturday and ...

Youth team beat Hapoel Rishon 1:0

Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Shahahr" beat Hapoel Rishon Lezion 1-0 to continue their positive momentum and a second victory in a row thanks to an 81st minute goal by Rave Asayag

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar”, the club’s under-19 side, on Saturday affirmed their fine form by registering a 1:0 win over Hapoel Rishon Lezion in the seventh round of the youth league.

Maccabi dominated from the start and already had the ball in the net in the 12th minute, but Tal Torgeman’s effort was ruled offisde.

In the 24th minute, Rishon were saved by the crossbar after a powerful Ronen Hanchkis shot but Torgeman, who was again in the fray, put his shot off the rebound wide.

Two more attempts late in the half by Asaf Hershko and Shai Balahssen tested Rishon’s goalkeeper, who managed to keep the ball out on both occasions.

Maccabi dominated after the restart and had several chances, with Nadav Nidam and Omer Itzhaki both threatening but the breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute when Rave Asayag controlled a rebounding ball in the area and swivelled to shoot put the ball in the net.

Nehorhi Biton almost added a second in injury time, but his shot narrowly missed the target.

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv “Shahar”, the club’s under-19 side, ...

Upcoming weekend youth fixtures

Maccabi Tel Aviv youth and junior sides will look to repeat a sweep of victories achieved last weekend. The youth team will play away at Hapoel Rishon Lezion

Hapoel Rishon Lezion will host Maccabi “Shahar”, the under-19 side, at Haberfeld Stadium, kickoff at 11:00. Following last weekend’s dramatic win over Beitar Jerusalem, the youth team, who are on 10 points, will look to continue their winning momentum and seek to better their current third position in the standings. Rishon are in 11th place after six rounds of play with seven points. The race for the top is turning out to be very tight.

The junior A side, Maccabi “Oded” will be hosted by Maccabi Netanya “Yonatan” at the Shapira ground in Netanya, kickoff 15:30. The boys are having a good run and share the table lead with Maccabi Haifa, both have 15 points from six matches.

It’s another tight race and Netanya are three points behind in seventh position in the standings.

The junior B side, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” will be hosted by Hapoel Ramat Gan at the Ramat Hashikma ground at 15:50. Maccabi’s boys are also at the top of the standings on 19 points, but they share the lead with three other clubs. A win will be crucial to keep up with the pacesetters. Ramat Gan are in 14th place with eight points.

The junior C side, Maccabi “Eldad” will play Hapoel Beersheba at the Wassermill stadium at 11:00 in what will be a preview of sorts of the TASE Premier League’s featured match on Monday at Bloomfield. The boys will look to add another victory after last week’s win, and after five matches, they lie in fifth place in their division with nine points, the same as Beersheba, but with a better goal difference that puts them one place above their hosts.

Hapoel Rishon Lezion will host Maccabi “Shahar”, the under-19 side, ...

Academy hosts “Football network tourney”

Youth academy hosts tournament for boys born in 2008 involving various clubs who maintain reciprocal ties with Maccabi Tel Aviv

The Maccabi Tel Aviv youth academy on Tuesday organised a tournament for boys from the 2008 age group as it endeavours to expand contacts with clubs with which it holds ongoing ties.

Teams of nine players competed against each other in the day-long event at the Kiryat Shalom complex. Participating were Beitar Tel Aviv-Bat Yam, Hapoel Hadera, Ironi Gedera, Holon FC, Maccabi Ashkelon, Beitar Ramat Gan, Ramle SC and Maccabi Tel Aviv south and north clubs who entered boys born in 2009.

The final was contested by the two latter clubs, Maccabi Tel Aviv south and north, after they won all their preliminary matches and the southern team emerged as winners following a penalty shoot-out.

During the event, cooperation agreements were signed with clubs as Maccabi strives to share knowledge its system and philosophy. The project’s long-term aim is to bring the most talented youngsters to Maccabi and to continue to expand its contacts with other clubs throughout the country.

The Maccabi Tel Aviv youth academy on Tuesday organised a ...

Maccabi secure tough 1-0 win over Ashdod

Visitors Maccabi Tel Aviv dominated entire match but needed 70 minutes before Chico Ofoedu broke down the hosts for a crucial win

Maccabi Tel Aviv were made to work hard by hosts Ashdod SC on Saturday but the visitors nevertheless secured an important victory with a Chico Ofoedu goal in the 70th minute in the port city.

A fast-paced match saw Maccabi secure three important points as they seek to retain their league crown and they have kept another clean sheet. 

In a generally untidy contest, Maccabi dominated the majority of play but they were unable to find a way through to the Ashdod goal as the hosts defended on their small pitch that made expansive play difficult.

The first half saw Maccabi attempt more than a handful of chances but none troubled their opponents, while Daniel Tenenbaum in goal was barely tested. 

Ofoedu finally got Maccabi on the scoreboard in the 70th minute when a rare breakaway move found him in front of the goalmouth with only Ashdod keeper Roy Mishpati to beat. He made no mistake and slotted the ball after a cross from the right by Andre Geraldes.

Ofoedu almost made it 2-0 less than two minutes later from another ball in from the right, but it was too fast and he couldn’t control it and missed the target.

Maccabi dropped the pace a little as the match drew to its conclusion and play became a little more untidy although Ashdod never appeared as if they could really threaten their visitors.

Maccabi Tel Aviv were made to work hard by hosts ...

All three Maccabi junior teams win

All three Maccabi Tel Aviv junior sides registered victories at the weekend for a perfect record alongside the youth side, who returned from the international break and gained a 1-0 win over Beitar Jerusalem

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s three junior sides all registered victories at the weekend alongside the youth team who scored an important 1-0 win over Beitar Jerusalem

The “A” team, Maccabi Oded beat Ramat Hasharon 2-0, and the win kept them at the top of their division alongside Maccabi Haifa and both teams have 15 points from six matches. Coach Uri David’s charges achieved their win through goals by David Turgeman, who scored in the 25^th minute and Aner Ushmandi in the 51^st.

The “B” team, Maccabi Eli Fuchs, beat Beitar Jerusalem 4-1 and are also atop their standings with 19 points from nine matches. Coach Assaf Haber’s side picked up the pace after conceding an early goal and won with second-half strikes by Bar Lin, who scored twice, and Lior Aloni and Orel Baja.

Maccabi Eldad, the “C” side had the biggest win on Saturday and beat Hapoel Ramat Gan 5-0 as Maor Ben-Nun, Roy Zerzevsky, Tom Bloch, Ron Rabinovitch and Agam Hanun all scored. It was a third win in five outings for coach Boaz Bracha’s side and they climbed to fifth place in their division.

 

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s three junior sides all registered victories at ...

Youth team beat Beitar Jerusalem 1-0

Maccabi Tel Aviv's youth side returned from the international break and handed coach Eliezer Ben Aharon a 1-0 win over Beitar Jerusalem thanks to an 81st minute headed winner by central defender Itay Ben Hamo

Maccabi “Shahar” Tel Aviv returned from a three-week break on Saturday to register an important victory over Beitar Jerusalem with central defender Itay Ben Hamo scoring the only goal of the contest in the 81st minute.

Constant pressure by the Maccabi players almost brought an early breakthrough in the first half and Beitar got their chance on a counter attack in the 23rd minute, although they were denied by the crossbar. 

Maccabi hosted the game in Ness Ziona and had several more chances in the second half before the breakthrough finally came in the 81st minute when Shai Balahssen crossed the ball in from the right and Ben Hamo found his way through to head in from close range.

Maccabi almost added a second, although they were also denied by the crossbar from a shot by defender Guy Mizrahi. 

Lineups – Maccabi: Ben Musayof, Guy Mizrahi, Omer Itzhaki, Itay Ben Hamo, Shachar Rosen, Niv Berkovitz, (Shaked Navon, 68), Shai Balahssen, Nadav Nidam (Asaf Hershko, 54), Rave Asayag (Omri Ram, 63), Parfait Guiagon, Ronen Hanchis (Afek Sapir Navot, 68)

Beitar: Nissim Hayek, Raz Bruchian, Adir Deri, David Huga, Aviel Zargari, Li-On Mizrahi, Gil Ben Chelouche, Eran Azoulai, Orel Cohen, Zid Konber, Tadagar Dego.

Maccabi “Shahar” Tel Aviv returned from a three-week break on ...

Upcoming weekend youth action

The youth team will return from its international break and will host Beitar Jerusalem while the junior A, B and C sides will look to maintain their positive momentum

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth team return to action on Saturday after their international break and will host Beitar Jerusalem at Ness Ziona stadium, kickoff is at noon. The sixth round of action in the youth league will present an intriguing clash for the charges of coach Eliezer Ben Aharon. Maccabi “Shahar” are in sixth place in the division with seven points, while Beitar are in fourth place with nine points.

Maccabi “Oded” the junior A side, go into their clash against Hapoel Ramat Hasharon as league leaders and will kick off at 8:30 at Kiryat Shalom looking for a fifth win this season after six rounds of action. Their opponents are in 12th position with only three points.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs,” the junior B side, will also host Beitar Jerusalem at Kiryat Shalom (kickoff 10:45) and as joint league leaders with four other clubs who all have 16 points, will look to maintain their winning run against opponents who have six points and are in 14th place in the league.

The junior C side, Maccabi “Eldad,” also have an 8:30 kickoff at Kiryat Shalom and face Hapoel Ramat Gan. They have six points and lie in seventh place in their league and will be looking to climb up the standings if they can take points from their opponents, who have only one point from four matches and line in 15th place.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s youth team return to action on Saturday ...

Saturday age group team results 12.10

Maccabi Tel Aviv's two junior teams who were in action at the weekend both managed away wins

The boys’ A team, Maccabi “Oded” continued its excellent start to the season on Saturday and registered a 5-1 away win over Ironi Nesher. It was a fourth win in five outings for the team since the start of the season. The hosts took the lead in the second minute of the match, but that was their last effort and Maccabi’s boys hit back with Dor Turgeman and Elad Kaplan each scoring twice and Ori Halevy sealing the scoreline.

The B team, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” won 2-0 against Ashdod SC, a victory that saw them climb to the top of the standings in their division thanks to a superior goal difference ahead of three other teams who also have 16 points. Oscar Gloch and Orel Baya scored in the second half.

The boys’ C team, Maccabi “Eldad,” will be away to Maccabi Haifa on Wednesday at Ketzef.

The boys’ A team, Maccabi “Oded” continued its excellent start ...