Important wins for Maccabi's Under-17s and 16s. A dramatic draw for the Under-15 Team 2
Matchweek 20 in the national Under-17 Premier League brought together two teams at either end of the table, second ranked Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" and bottom placed Hapoel Kfar Saba. The result reflected the two teams' respective status as "Oded" rolled over their weaker opponents 9-0. Raz Itzhak scored a hat-trick, Ben Shugal netted a brace and Dor Galili, Gabi Kanichowsky, Omri Haramati and Itay Aloni all added individual efforts for Maccabi's Under-17s. The win helped head coach Eliezer Ben Aharon's lads maintain their distance from league leaders Maccabi Haifa at three points.
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs" held on to their place atop the Under-16 Nationwide League South with a hard fought 1-2 victory over Hapoel Jerusalem at their Kiryat Yovel playing ground. Itamar Shviro put Maccabi out in front and after the equaliser Roy Ronen scored the winning goal seven minutes from time. With six matches left to play this season, head coach Erez Belfer's charges still hold on to a six point advantage over second-placed municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The club's Under-15 Team 1, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", played an intriguing derby on Saturday at the home ground of big city opponents Hapoel Tel Aviv, and their 1-2 victory means head coach Shlomi Mitelka's squad climb to the third spot in the nationwide Under -15 League Central District. Team 2 headed north on Saturday to face fellow league pacesetters Maccabi Haifa at their "Ketsef" training complex and returned with a point after a dramatic 3-3 draw. Prince Thomas' brace and an individual goal by Desalin Balacho had handed head coach Haim Siton's visiting side a commanding lead, but Maccabi Haifa made an impressive recovery and managed to go level in the dying moments, dividing the points between the two clubs.
Maccabi's Under-14 Team North suffered only their second defeat this season, and their first at home, after losing 0-1 to Hapoel Petach Tikva at Kiryat Shalom training ground. Team South on the other hand registered a handsome 0-2 away victory against Hapoel Jerusalem in a match played on Friday afternoon. The club's Under-13 Team South stayed top of the nationwide Under-12 League Central District with a resounding 9-0 home victory over Hapoel Ramat Gan. Team North shared the points away with Hapoel Hod Hasharon after the teams played out a 1-1 draw.
