Youth Department action, Saturday January 28, 2017

The Under-19 side hosts Rishon Le'Zion, the Under-17's return from their break while the Under-16's look to keel up their fine play

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion “Yehuda”, 14:00 Ramle Stadium
Following two away matches, Guy Tzarfati’s club returns home and will look to get back onto the winning track against the 11th place team. The Yellow & Blue find themselves with 28 points in 4th position on the table.

Ashdod “Zilber” – Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, 11:30 Ashdod
Eliezer Ben Aharon’s squad returns after a three week break and will look to keep their 7-point lead atop of the table in the Under-17 Ligat Ha’Al against the port city side.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv, 11:00 Kiryat Shalom
The Under-16 team under the tutelage of Alon Brumer are in fine form as they enter the Little Tel Aviv Derby. With 42 points, the club is just one point away from table leaders Maccabi Petach Tikva.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Beer Sheva, 12:30 Kiryat Shalom
Ori David’s squad will host the southern side after a draw against Bnei Yehuda last Matchday as the will look to get back onto the winning track. Beer Sheva finds themselves in 4th place, two spots below Maccabi.

Hapoel Tel Aviv North – Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv, 08:30, Wolfson 2
Maccabi “Ilan” will take part in the Big Tel Aviv Derby at Hapoel Tel Aviv as they sit in the second to last place with 7 points.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion “Yehuda”, 14:00 Ramle Stadium Following ...

Maccabi “Shachar” to face Maccabi Herzliya in State Cup action

Youth Department Israel State Cup Draw: Under-17 plays a Big Derby on February 4th

This past weekend, a State Cup Draw was held for the various youth department clubs around the country. Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will face Maccabi Herzliya on February 4th while the Maccabi “Oded” will play a Derby against Hapoel “Tzachi Ben Porat” Tel Aviv.

The Under-16 club, Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” will face Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle and Maccabi “Ilan” will kick off against Maccabi “Hadar” Herzliya.

This past weekend, a State Cup Draw was held for the various ...

Yellow & Blue Saturday – Match Results January 21, 2017

The Under-19 side's contest ended goalless against Tubruk, the Under-16's won and the Under-15 "Match of the Season" ended in a 2:2 draw

Beitar Tubruk 0:0 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv
The Under-19 squad couldn’t get back onto the winning track as they had trouble finding the the Tubruk goal in a goalless draw. For the full match report and photo gallery, CLICK HERE

Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle 0:3 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv
Alon Brumer’s team continued on its way with yet another fine result staying within one point of the top of the table. Asaf Hershko gave Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” a 1:0 lead in the 25th minute, while Koren Gadge and Bar Cohen added a pair of goals in the 75th and 78th minutes respectively to seal the win.

Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv 2:2 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv
The “Match of the Season” saw the two top teams battle it out to a 2:2 draw. The hosts took a 1:0 lead in the 15th minute but goals by Stav Nachmani in the 42nd minute and Or Roisman in the 54th minute gave Ori David’s side the one goal advantage. However, Bnei Yehuda found the equalizer in the 80th minute to split the points and keep the status quo.

Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv 3:1 Maccabi “Yehuda Partush” Petach Tikva
The Under-15 North side came back from the break with a solid 3:1 victory. Amir Sofer’s squad broke the ice in the second half with a 55th minute goal by Shay Bozurgi which was followed up by a 73rd minute own goal. The hosts cut the lead to 2:1 in the 79th minute while Yaheli Lazar added an insurance marker to wrap up the win.

Beitar Tubruk 0:0 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv The Under-19 squad couldn’t get back ...

Tzarfati: “We have to work more on finishing”

The Maccabi "Shachar" Head Coach summed up his side's goalless draw with Beitar Tubruk and spoke about his squad's ability to finish: "We didn't concentrate enough"

Maccabi “Shachar” wanted to head home with 3-points following their Matchday 16 encounter against Beitar Tubruk along with getting back onto the winning track. However, Guy Tzarfati’s club came back disappointed after splitting the points.

“I don’t think we concentrated enough,” summed up Tzarfati. “I don’t want to come up with excuses but it was tough to play technical football on this pitch. When the opportunity presented itself, we had to score. When that didn’t happen, we also didn’t have a simple time dealing with deep passes. Our preparation was fine, but we weren’t sharp enough in the offensive zone and we had to score a goal.”

What needs to be improved:

“Everything we did in the Beitar Tubruk match was fine except for our finishing. We have to improve in this area and it has to be a point that we really work on. We will have to work more on finishing with the young players. Our job is to take the youngsters and teach them how to play under pressure. We’re working on exactly that.”

Maccabi “Shachar” wanted to head home with 3-points following their Matchday 16 ...

Maccabi “Shachar” & Tubruk draw 0-0

Guy Tzarfati's side looked to get back onto the winning track away at Tubruk but were only able to split the points. Prince hit the post while Ozeri made a heroic save. Next Saturday: Ironi Rishon Le'Zion Yehuda

Prematch
The Under-19 squad came into Matchday 16 after falling to Kiryat Shemona 2:1 last week up north. Following that match, central defender Raani Hamza moved to Maccabi Shearayim of the Leumit League. Tomer Altman, Amit Rosenboim and Omer Kats were injured and unavailable for the contest, while Guy Shetach, Mahmoud Awesat and Netanel Peretz were included in Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI.

First Half
Maccabi “Shachar” controlled the tempo of the match playing primarily in the midfield while looking for a way past the Tubruk defense. Netanel Peretz had a great chance in the 34th minute when he took the from ball 6 meters out, but his effort went over bar. Ron Zamir also took a stab at the Tubruk goal but missed the target. Near the end of the first half, Tubruk had a magnificent chance to take the lead as Sosa went in all alone on Hen Ozeri. However, the young Yellow & Blue keeper made a huge save as the ball went out for a corner.

Second Half
Tubruk had a number of counters at the start of the second half as Ozeri came up big again stoning Sosa from in close. In the 60th minute, Fadi Najar picked up a yellow card and four minutes later Guy Tzarfati made his first substitution as Eylon Almog replaced Or Dasa.

The insertion of Almog gave the Under-19’s new life as just two minutes after the striker came onto the pitch, he almost gave his side the lead, but the Tubruk keeper Ohayon made the stop sending the ball out for a corner. Almog again had a wonderful chance in the box but Ohayon made the save to keep the match goalless.

Amit Shapira was introduced in the 77th minute in favor of Awesat and Prince Thomas came on a bit later to try and find a winner which he almost did from 16-meters, but his chance went off of the left post as the match ended in a 0:0 draw. Next Saturday Maccabi “Shachar” will host Ironi Rishon Le’Zion Yehuda at the Ramle Stadium.

Prematch The Under-19 squad came into Matchday 16 after falling to Kiryat Shemona ...

Avi Cohen’s Widow Speaks to Maccabi “Shachar”

The Young Yellow & Blue heard from Dorit Cohen all about her legendary husband's storied career and tragic accident. Watch the Under-19 players attempt to play football with special "Drunk Glasses" thanks to Or Yarok

Just prior to kicking off at Beitar Tubruk on Saturday, 12:00, the Maccabi “Shachar” players had the privilege to listen to Dorit Cohen, Avi Cohen z”l’s widow, about her husband’s illustrious career as a player for the Yellow & Blue and beyond.

Cohen tragically passed away just over six years ago due to a motorbike accident. Dorit along with Or Yarok and the Maccabi Tel Aviv FC Foundation are committed to keeping Avi’s legacy alive through programming with the youngsters and youth of Maccabi. Over the course of the presentation Dorit spoke about Avi’s life and times, how he was able to succeed and even have the opportunity to star for the Liverpool. The lecture was so moving that some of the participants began to cry.

Straight from the lecture, the players went to the training pitch and learnt about what type of influence alcohol can have and the dangers that it can cause especially when driving. The young Yellow & Blue put on special “Drunk Glasses” that impair your vision to show what it is like to have had to much to drink as attempted to dribble the ball and shoot at the goal. Here are the results:

Just prior to kicking off at Beitar Tubruk on Saturday, 12:00, the ...

Youth Department action, Saturday January 21, 2017

The Under-19 club plays away at Tubruk, the Under-16 side will look to keep their streak going and the Under-15 team has their “Match of the Season” against the first place squad

Beitar Turuk – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, Tubruk, 12:00
Maccabi came up short last week in Kiryat Shemona falling 2:1 to the northern team and will now look to get back onto the winning track. Guy Tzarfati’s side will attempt to move out of 4th place on Matchday 16 of the Youth Ligat Ha’Al.

Beitar Tel Aviv/Ramle – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, Ramle, 10:45
Alon Brumer’s squad has been playing extremely well and will look to continue their fine form after scoring 7 goals last Matchday. The young Yellow & Blue find themselves just just one point off of the top of the table where Maccabi “Moshe Dayan” Petach Tikva currently sit.

Bnei Yehuda “Grundman” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, Shechuna HaTikva, 10:30
After losing their first match of the season last Matchday, the Under-15’s will be playing their “Match of the Season” against Bnei Yehuda in the Little Derby. The hosts are in first place with 34 points while Ori David’s side find themselves in second place with 32.

Maccabi “Ilan” Tel Aviv – Maccabi “Yehuda Partush” Petach Tikva, Kiryat Shalom 9:00
Amir Sofer’s crew come back from the break raring to go with a top of the table clash against their Petach Tikva counterparts who are just 2 points ahead of Maccabi “Ilan” as they sit in third place.

Beitar Turuk – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, Tubruk, 12:00 Maccabi came up short ...

Maccabi takes the Derby 1:0 over Hapoel

Maccabi Tel Aviv visited Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Big Derby at the Moshava Stadium on Matchday 18 of the Ligat Ha'Al and picked up the win and three points

The Yellow & Blue only needed one goal to pick up the Derby victory as Vidar Kjartansson headed home the winner in the 8th minute via a Ben Chaim cross as Maccabi will now prepare for a Matchday 19 contest against Bnei Sakhnin next Sunday evening at the Netanya Stadium.

Sports Director Jordi Cruyff’s Starting XI was the exact same lineup that featured against Hapoel Raanana last Matchday and included keeper Predrag Rajikovic in goal with a defensive corps of Eli Dasa, Eitan Tibi, Egor Filipenka and Avi Rikan. Captain Gal Alberman was in his usual defensive midfield position along with Eyal Golasa and Yossi Benayoun while Tal Ben Chaim, Barak Itzhaki and Vidar Kjartansson played in front.

Available on the bench were Daniel Lifshitz, Haris Medunjanin, Oscar Scarione, Dor Micha, Sagiv Yehezkel, Tal Ben Haim and Nosa Igiebor.

First Half
Maccabi looked to take an early lead and they did just that in the 8th minute when Ben Chaim superbly crossed the ball into the box right to Icelander Kjartansson who put it behind Ariel Harush for the quick 1:0 lead.

Three minutes later, Itzhaki found Benayoun but number 51’s effort sailed over the goal while Ben Chaim found Kjartansson again in the box, however the striker’s header just went wide left of the goal.

With Maccabi controlling the tempo of the contest, Itzhaki had a marvelous chance in the 26th minute but Harush was up to the task and parried the ball away to keep the score as is. Eight minutes later Ben Chaim came dashing into the box from the left side but his sharp angle effort was just pushed out for a corner kick. Seconds later Shachar Hirsch went the other way for Hapoel, however his individual effort missed the goal wide right as the ball scooted out or harm’s way.

Both sides would not have many chances over the final minutes of the half as the Yellow & Blue went into the break ahead 1:0 after 45 minutes of action.

Second Half
Maccabi’s first chance came in the 53rd minute when Rikan found Kjartansson once again in the box but his header was just off the mark. In the 65th minute Hapoel went downfield after a Maccabi miss, but Hirsch came up empty again for the Reds as Rajikovic was in place to make the stop.

Cruyff made his first two substitutions of the match in the 67th and 75th minutes introducing Haris Medunjanin and Dor Micha in favor of Itzhaki and Benayoun respectively. After a hard collision between Golasa and Ben Reichert, number 23 exited the game and Nosa Igiebor entered in the 82nd minute.

Following 6 minutes of added time, Maccabi closed out the victory and collected three points as look ahead to next week’s Matchday 19 encounter against Bnei Sakhnin at the Netanya Stadium.

The Yellow & Blue only needed one goal to pick up the ...

Kartzev scores brace for Israel in 4:0 win

The Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv midfielder shined for the Blue & White by scoring two goals against Georgia as part of a Friendly Tournament waling place in Belarus

The Under-17 Israel National Team is participating in a tournament in Belarus that began play today. Gadi Brumer’s side defeated Georgia 4:0 as Maccabi’s Eden Kartzev scored a brace. Even though Kartzev is playing with the Under-17 due to his age, he is part of Maccabi’s Under-19 squad.

Guy Dahan gave the Blue & White a 1:0 lead in the 13th minute while Kartzev scored his first of two 14 minutes later after taking advantage of a Georgian defensive mistake. In the 53rd minute, the Yellow & Blue midfielder scored his second of the contest from 14 meters out. With 20 minutes remaining in the match, Nasir Magduv scored Israel’s fourth goal. Tomorrow, the Blue & While will face their Ukrainian counterparts.

Other than Kartzev, Maccabi’s Daniel Peretz, Alon Strosberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Machlof and Eyal Hen are also part of the squad.

The Under-17 Israel National Team is participating in a tournament in Belarus ...

Yellow & Blue Saturday – Match Results January 14, 2017

The Under-19 squad’s win streak came to an end away at Kiryat Shemona, the Under-16 side continued its fine run while the Under-15 club lost their first match of the season

Hapoel Kiryat Shemona 2:1 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv
Guy Tzarfati’s side traveled up to Kiryat Shemona with a two match win streak. Dor Galili scored for the Yellow & Blue but 13 minutes to time saw the hosts take home all three points. For the full match report CLICK HERE

Gadna “Roni” Tel Aviv 0:7 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv
Gil Ben Shalosh scored a brace for the Under-16 squad while Raava Assayag, Omri Ram, Bar Cohen, Dan Lugassi and Asaf Hershko all scored for Alon Brumer’s team in the Little Tel Aviv Derby.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 1:2 Beitar “Gadi” Jerusalem
After 13 games, Head Coach Ori David and his Under-15’s suffered their first loss. Stav Nachmani gave the young Yellow & Blue the early lead in the 4th minute, however the capital city side drew even on a 24th minute penalty and two minutes after the break took the lead for good.

Hapoel Kiryat Shemona 2:1 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv Guy Tzarfati’s side traveled up ...