After the two Maccabi U15 teams reached the State Cup finals last week, the U12s repeated the feat by winning both of their semi-final ties
All-Maccabi youth team State Cup finals are becoming the order of the day as once again the club's two representatives in the same age category, this time the Under-12s, succeeded in winning their semi-final matches at Shfayim playing field near Tel Aviv. As occurred last week with the Under-15s, both Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oz" (Team South) and "Leibo" (Team North) emerged triumphant from their semi-final encounters to set up the second all-Maccabi youth State Cup final of the 2014/15 season.
First up were coaches Guy Shemesh and Netanel Luzon's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Oz", who faced their counterparts from Ashdod FC for the right to advance to the finals. It was very much a box-to-box affair, with the opposition succeeding in drawing level no less than four times and even establishing a 6-4 lead at the break. The second half saw "Oz" restore parity at 6-6 but it was in extra that Maccabi's Under-12 Team South really showed their character, scoring twice to no reply and winning the tie 8-6. "Oz"'s eight goals came courtesy of a hat-trick by Oscar Gloch, a brace by Ben Linker and individual efforts by Orel Azarzar, Mor Simantov and Ori Halevi.
In the second feature, coaches Adi Somech and Alon Peleg's Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo" also faced tough opposition, in their case from the Under-12s of Hapoel Rishon Lezion. "Leibo" jumped to a 2-0 lead, but the youngsters from Rishon succeeded in wiping the advantage out by the close of the first half, which ended 2-2. In the second half however it was almost all Maccabi, as was demonstrated by the final scoreline of 7-4 in "Leibo"'s favour. Omer Senior scored a brace, while Rani Noff, Guy Noff, Omer Abuhav, Aviv Peles and Amir Arielli all scored individual goals for the winning Maccabi Tel Aviv "Leibo" side.
The all-Maccabi U12 State Cup final will take place on April 8th. The time and venue will be published at a later date.
