Following wins for U13 South and the U16s, MTA's U15 Team 2 rounded off a red letter day for the Youth Division
Today (Tuesday), three teams of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Youth Division competed in State Cup finals and all three won. After the Under-13s Team South became the Division's third team to lift the trophy, the Under-16s followed suit leaving the Under-15 Team 2 to complete Maccabi Tel Aviv's sweep of their State Cup final matches. Currently lying third in the nationwide Under-15 League Sharon District, head coach Haim Siton's charges, like the Under-13s before them, faced northern rivals Maccabi Haifa after recording victories in the quarter finals over the club's second Under-15 team, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Eldad", and sweeping aside Maccabi Netanya in the semis.
The start of the match, held at the national stadium in Ramat Gan, started out less than auspiciously for MTA's Under-15s, as Maccabi Haifa succeeded in taking the lead just after the half hour mark. But by the time the half-time whistle sounded the team's top goal scorer, Desalin Balacho, had already equalised with his 30th goal of the season in all competitions. After the restart "Eldad" headed out to complete the turnaround, and seven minutes after the hour mark they succeeded in the form of a splendid long-range effort by Prince Thomas. "Eldad" keeper Yaniv Goldshtein preserved the 2-1 advantage with an impressive save before Yaniv Goldstein headed in off the woodwork to secure his side's 3-1 victory and send his teammates off to celebrate the lifting of the prestigious State Cup trophy.
This was the Maccabi Youth Division's third State Cup triumph in one day, and their fifth in five attempts so far. The Division's last remaining State Cup final will be held on May 13th when the club's Under-17s, Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oded", also meet their northern namesakes Maccabi Haifa.
For the full story on the State Cup win of the Under-13 Team South, click here
For the full story on the State Cup win of the Under-16s, click here
To see more photographs from all three matches, go to Maccabi Tel Aviv's official Facebook page
