Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under 17s are now the official champions of the Southern National Under 17 League after a 1-5 victory over Hapoel Ra'anana
With four games still to play till the end of the league season, Maccabi Tel Aviv's Under 17s have secured the championship of the Southern National Under 17 League in a match that from the very start left no room for doubt which would be the winning side. Maccabi won their game in hand at Hapoel Ra'anana 1-5 with three of the five goals on the scoreboard with just 20 minutes showing on the clock courtesy of striker Guy Aviv, midfielder Matan Hozaz (his sixth in his last eight matches) and striker Sohil Armeli (his 16th league goal this season). The hosts pulled one back just after the restart but Hozaz completed his brace and midfielder Yossi Solelich added the final touch to an impressive victory that seals the league championship for Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad".
A glance at the impressive statistics of Maccabi's Under 17s tells the whole story of their securing the championship with four games still to play: 21 victories in 22 matches, 63 of a possible 66 points. As befits a champion, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad" also have the best offence and defence in the league, and by a very wide margin: 83 goals scored to just 8 conceded.
Nonetheless, Maccabi's Under 17s still have two important goals to achieve this season. The end of season for the two national U17 leagues, North and South, marks the start of the "Champion of Champions" competition, which pits the top three clubs of the North against those of the South in three rounds that determine this season's overall national Under 17 champion. And on the 23rd of April Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad' will play their semi-final Youth National Cup tie against northern rivals Maccabi Haifa in an attempt to move one step closer to this season's Under 17 double.
But in the meantime, there is no longer any doubt about the Southern National Under 17 League: "We are the Champions!"
