Dramatic and crucial victories for the Under-17s, Under-16s and the Under-15 Team 2
Much like in the national Under-19 Premier League, the top of the Under-17 table hosts two Maccabi teams, Tel Aviv and Haifa. Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded" are currently second and yesterday they maintained the gap between themselves and their northern namesakes at three points with a dramatic 2-3 away victory at Hapoel Beer Sheva. The hosts took their first lead after a quarter of an hour but Maccabi's Raz Itzhak equalised fifteen minutes later. Ten minutes from time Beer Sheva went ahead for the second time in the match but "Oded" weren't ready to quit just yet. Ben Shugal found a second equaliser two minutes from time and Gabi Kanichowsky's strike in injury time not only gave Maccabi's Under-17s all three points but also maintained their draw-free record this season.
The club's Under-16s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eli Fuchs", held on to the top spot in the Nationwide Under-16 League South with a 2-1 triumph over Beitar Jerusalem at the Kiryat Shalom training ground. Beitar took a one-goal lead into the break, but in the second half Maccabi's Roy Ronen and, in the final moments, Nadav Amran turned the match around to hand their side three vital points. Head coach Erez Belfer's charges continue to lead municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv by a margin of six at the top with five games left to play in the season.
Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", the club's Under-15 Team 1, faced Central District league leaders Ashdod FC on Saturday and the tie finished in a goalless draw. Team 2 meanwhile were involved in an intriguing contest at fellow Sharon District pacesetters Maccabi Netanya and walked away triumphant after Prince Thomas scored the match's only goal twenty minutes from time. The win means that head coach Haim Siton's lads change places with their hosts and climb into the second position in the table, trailing leaders Maccabi Petach Tikva by just seven points with a game in hand.
Maccabi's Under-14 Team South maintained their current good form by recording their fourth consecutive win and their eleventh in twelve games. Head coach Eyal Tzahi's crew beat Hapoel Ramat Gan away 0-3 courtesy of a brace by Amit Mordehaev and an individual effort by Gal Porat. Team North were also on the road and won handsomely 1-6 at Nesher FC thanks to braces by Yam Ben Yehuda and Arad Bar, with Tomer Tzitrin and Gal Sofer adding on.
The Under-13 derby between Maccabi's Team South and municipal rivals Hapoel Tel Aviv ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both sides leading the Under-13 Central District table with the same number of points. Their Team North counterparts registered Saturday's final Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division win by sailing past Hapoel Hadera 4-0 at Kiryat Shalom.
