The U16s draw despite a hat-trick. The two U15 teams played each other in an internal Youth Division derby
With the younger youth teams beginning their season only in two weeks' time, Saturday saw just three MTA Youth Division teams in action. In addition to the Under-17 derby against municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", the club's Under-16s, travelled to Hapoel Rishon Lezion for an intriguing tie with many twists and turns. The hosts jumped to a one-goal first half lead but after the break the visitors answered with three goals in ten minutes to turn the match in their favour. Joseph Ganda scored the first and Hadar Levi added the other two to give Maccabi a promising 1-3 lead. But Rishon Lezion were in no mood to roll over and after pulling one back two minutes from time they drew level 3-3 in injury time to share the points with their Tel Aviv visitors. This is the third draw in their first five league outings for head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's Under-16s, who next week will host Hapoel Beer Sheva, currently second in the nationwide Southern District U16 table.
In matchweek 2 of the nationwide Central District U15 table, Maccabi's two Under-15 squads, "Eldad" and Team 2, met in an internal derby, with Team 2 playing "host" at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. They also emerged 2-0 victors, with Guy Shetach and Ofek Goldberg providing the goals. For Tel Aviv "Eldad" this was their first match, and loss, of the young season after having had a bye in matchweek 1. Team 2 booked their first win of the season after drawing in matchweek 1.
