The Under-19 squads European Journey continues when they play Sigma Olomouc on Wednesday at 17:00 Israel time in the Czech Republic. The match will be the first leg of a two legged UEFA Youth Champions League tie for Maccabi “Shachar” after they disposed of Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in the first round. Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s team continued their preparations in earnest for the contest as they held their final training session ahead of the match at the Andruv Stadion.

After arriving in Prague earlier in the day, the team travelled to the city of Olomouc and following a short rest, the squad went to the stadium for their training session as Tzarfati looked ahead to tomorrow’s contest:

“We’re playing against a team that also advanced to the stage and they did so admirably. This will be a tough match but we enjoy challenges. I hope that we can record a good result in the first half which is in essence the first leg.”

Recording a good result in the first leg:
“Every time when there is a two legged tie it’s always important to get a good result in the first leg. Of course this is an away match and it’s always good to play the decisive match at home, but what’s important right now is the first leg and what will be on the pitch here. I hope we can bring home a good result.”

About Sigma Olomouc:
“They are a very good team and have four players who also play for the first team with them who are playing especially in the Champions League contests. They are quality players, string and have proper technique. They also have some dynamic attackers who scored in the first two games. We will have to put an emphasis on set pieces as their is a gap between us and other cubs in Europe. However, we can counter this tactically and with determination. Those are some of the factors we need to bring into the match.”

Final thoughts:
“The hope is that we can play well, look good and bring home a good result so that the tie can be decided back in Israel.”

After advancing over Anzhi Makhachkala in the first round of UEFA Youth Champions League play, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will face Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic on Wednesday at 17:00 in the second round. This morning, the young Yellow & Blue departed for the contest and later today the club will hold their final training session ahead of the match.

Bnei Yehuda 0:2 Maccabi Tel Aviv (U19)
Just ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Youth League match against Sigma Olomouc, the Under-19 side defeated Bnei Yehuda 2:0 on Matchday 10 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Bar Cohen’s 70’ goal and an own goal in the 80’ handed the young Yellow & Blue the 3 points and the win as they remain in 2nd place just 1 points off the top of the table leaders Maccabi Petah Tikva. For the Full Match Report Click Here.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 5:0 Maccabi Herzliya (U17)
After a two week international break for European Championship qualifying, the Under-17 side was back in action on Matchday 9 of league play. The victory gives Maccabi “Oded” an 8-point lead over the second place team. Shaked Navon and Tal Torjman scored braces while Yonatan Imberg scored a lone marker in the win. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the contest: “We were able to get into the match well from the first minute and we controlled and pressured Herzliya from the get go. We only went into the break with a one goal lead because we couldn’t finish. However, in the second half we were able to finish our chances and as the Herzliya players tired we were able to score more goals near the end of the match. This was the first time we played a 90 minute game which is a change top make our matches comparable with the Under-19 and First Team games. This will better prepare the players as they continue to advance. Next week we play at Rishon Le’Zion and we will do everything in our power to make sure that that match will be similar to our last few.”

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv 2:0 Maccabi Ahi Nazareth (U16)
The Under-16 squad took home the win on Matchday 10 thanks to goals by Ariel Balhassen and Elad Kaplan. Head Coach Eran Sassi spoke about the victory: “We are playing well as the players are controlling the pace of play as well as being more responsible on the pitch. We were able to create good scoring chances in both halves but we couldn’t finish and made some questionable decisions. The players are young and I hope that their decision making will improve match by match which will allow us to make the games easier.”

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 5:1 Ironi Modiin (U15)
After a big win over Hapoel Beer Sheva last week, the Under-15 squad continued their fine play by defeating the Modiin club. Maccabi “Eldad” remains in first place thanks to goals by Oral Bahia x2, Ofek Nedar, Yonatan Solonicki and Roie Tolchinsky. Head Coach Uri David discussed the win: “We had good minutes throughout the match but they were scattered throughout the game. Modiin played a defensive style of game and it took us time to figure out how to beat them. I really enjoyed seeing the players who came off the bench in the second half and made a big difference playing simple quality football that allowed us to score some very nice goals.”

This Wednesday Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv will face Czech Republic squad Sigma Olomouc in the second round of UEFA Youth Champions League action, however, ahead of the continental clash, the Under-19 side played Bnei Yehuda on the Petah Tikva synthetic pitch due to the winterization of the host’s home field on Matchday 10. Maccabi entered the day in second place just one point off the top of the table, while Bnei Yehuda sat in 8th place.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included keeper Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Dan Lugassi, Ido Shahar, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen and Eyal Hen.

First Half
Bnei Yehuda had the contest’s first chance in the 3’ when Netanel Emoyal crossed the ball from the left side to Soro Hassan, but his header went over the bar while the Yellow & Blue had their first opportunity 8 minutes later when Cohen stole the ball, sent it to Guerrero, but his shot went by the post.

In the 15’ Maccabi almost took the lead when Cohen’s free kick from the right made its way to Hofmayster but his header hit the bar and went out. The Yellow & Blue continued to threaten and in the 25’ Amit Glazer’s attempt was saved by the keeper while two minutes later Hofmayster tried his luck from long distance but his shot went over the bar.

Maccabi continued to apply pressure and in the 37’ Shalata took the ball in the midfield went by a pair of Bnei Yehuda players and took a long shot but keeper Omer Nireon made the stop and two minutes later Hen tried to drill the ball into the far corner but it just missed the target as the scored remained 0:0 at the break.

Second Half
Hofmayster kept the Maccabi pressure up as he found Cohen but the latter’s chance went over the goal while in the 57’ Or Itzhak made the alert free kick save for the Yellow & Blue. In the 61’ Gil Ben Shalosh who had come on as a substitute had a terrific chance but his shot was saved and a minute later Cohen’s attempt was also saved by Nireon.

In the 68’ Ben Shalosh’s opportunity went over the bar but two minutes later Tzarfati’s side would finally break the deadlock. Guerrero’s took a shot from distance that Nireon parried away but Cohen jumped on the rebound and out it home for a 1:0 Maccabi lead. Ten minutes later the Yellow & Blue doubled their advantage when Nadav Nidam who had come on as a substitute crossed the ball into the box but a Bnei Yehuda defender tried to head it back to the keeper but instead found the back of the goal for an own goal and a 2:0 lead.

Maccabi continued to control the pace of play and in the 88’ the host’s were handed a red card when Sagiv Cohen went into Omri Ram as the match came to an end with the Yellow & Blue taking home a 2:0 win.

Hapoel Beer Sheva 1:1 Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv (U19)
After advancing to the second round of the UEFA Youth Champions League last week, the young Yellow & Blue drew at Beer Sheva on Matchday 9 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The draw leaves Maccabi in 2nd place, just one point off the top of the table. Eduardo Guerrero scored off a Bar Cohen free kick. For the Full Match Report Click Here.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv, the club’s Under-17 team is off due to the international break. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side has 5 representatives with the Israel National Team that advanced to the Elite Round of the European Championships.

Hapoel Nir Ramat HaSharon 0:0 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
After defeating the top of the table club last week, the Under-16 squad ended in a goalless draw on Matchday 9. Head Coach Eran Sassi summed up the match: “This was a one-sided affair. We controlled the matchup as the opposition tried to counterattack. Our defense was solid and I’m happy about that, but on the other hand I’m very disappointed that we couldn’t score even though we had plenty of opportunities. We will have to work with the players when they have the chance to finish towards the goal and we want to continue to improve as each match goes by. Scoring goals gives the club confidence and strength to continue on.”

Hapoel Beer Sheva 0:2 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv (U15)
Following last week’s big win over Maccabi Haifa, the Under-15 side continued its positive momentum against Beer Sheva on Matchday 7. Oral Bahia and Oscar Glock gave the young Yellow & Blue the victory and helped move the side into first place. Head Coach Ori David spoke about the match that was: “We began strong and we did things correctly to take a 2:0 lead after 20 minutes. From there we had some problems finding the back of the goal on the attack but our defense played well and we won many 50/50 balls. However, we still have plenty of things to work on, primarily to play more quality minutes, but of course it’s always better to work on these things after a win.”

After last week’s 90’ victory over Hapoel Raanana as well as advancing to the second round of UEFA Youth League action, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv visited Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 9.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Yoav Hofmayster, Tamir Glazer (Ido Shahar 66’), Omri Ram (Mufleh Shalata 54’), Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Omer Barami (Bar Cohen 61’) Tal Yagudaev (Rave Assayag 54’)

First Half
In the 2’ Beer Sheva’s Roie Avitan took the ball in the middle pitch but his weak long distance shot went out, while two minutes later the host’s again threatened the Maccabi goal when Noam Dia’s chance missed the target. In the 7’ Ilay Trost’s opportunity from the top of the box was taken care of by Yellow & Blue keeper Or Itzhak as Beer Sheva kept applying pressure.

Amit Glazer sent a through ball to Guerrero but his chance was taken care of by Beer Sheva’s Ron Weizman for Maccabi’s first attempt of the contest while a minute later Guerrero’s second opportunity went out. However, in the 16’ the host’s took a 1:0 lead when Bruno passed the ball to Avitan who put it behind Itzhak for the advantage.

In the 25’ Beer Sheva’s Dia sent the ball to Bruno but his shot went out while a minute later, Ram crossed the ball into the box from the right but Guerrero’s aerial chance missed the target. Maccabi almost found the equalizer in the 33’ but Glazer’s attempt couldn’t find the back of the goal and four minutes later Trost’s long distance opportunity was saved by Itzhak as the host’s went into the break holding a slim 1:0 lead.

Second Half
Maccabi had their first chance of the half when Shalata’s shot went over the bar as the Yellow & Blue began to take control of the match. In the 69’ Cohen sent the ball to Guerrero in the box, but the latter’s chance went out for a corner after going off of a Beer Sheva defender. Two minutes later Shahar’s chance from 20 meters went over the goal but finally in the 77’ Tzarfati’s side’s hard work paid off.

Cohen’s free kick found Guerrero’s head as the Panamanian striker scored to help Maccabi draw even, 1:1. Beer Sheva tried to retake the lead in the 81’ but Amit Glazer made the defensive stop to keep the score as is. Five minutes later, the active Guerrero sent a brilliant cross to Assayag but he couldn’t get a good handle on the ball as it went out.

In the 88’ Cohen took the ball in the middle of the box but his shot was taken care of by Weizman who saved a goal as the two squads split the points in a 1:1 draw.

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:00 Wassermil Stadium (U19)
After advancing to the second round of the UEFA Youth Champions League, the Under-19 team returns to domestic action when they visit Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 9 of the Israel Premier League. The young Yellow & Blue are currently in 2nd place just one point off of first place Maccabi Petah Tikva while the host’s are in 3rd place after falling last week.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv (U17) are on break due to the European Championship qualifiers as Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side has 5 representatives who have helped the Blue & White in advancing to the Elite Round.

Hapoel Nir Ramat Hasharon – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 10:00 Ramat Hasharon Synthetic (U16)
The Under-16 squad will look to continue their winning streak after last week’s victory over the top of the table team. Eran Sassi’s 6th place side will visit 14th place Ramat Hasharon on Matchday 9.

Hapoel Beer Sheva – Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv, 9:45 Wassermil Stadium (U15)
After last week’s win over Maccabi Haifa, the Under-15 squad visits Hapoel Beer Sheva on Matchday 7. Should the young Yellow & Blue take the victory they will move into 1st place while the host’s currently sit in 4th.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv advanced to the second round of UEFA Youth Champions League action after defeating Anzhi Makhachkala 3:0 in the second leg (5:3 aggregate) thanks to a hat trick by Eduardo Guerrero (7, 90, 90) and will now await the winner of Maribor and Sigma Olomouc.

Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glazer, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Ido Shahar, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Bat Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi began the match well and in the 4’ the Yellow & Blue had their first good chance of the contest when Guerrero sent the ball to Hofmayster, but his shot went off a defender. However, three minutes later Maccabi took a 1:0 lead when Hen was pulled down in the box by a Russian defender good for a penalty which Guerrero converted to give Maccabi the advantage.

In the 15’ Anzhi had their first opportunity but Itzhak made the stop while 9 minutes later Guerrero almost scored his second of the game after he made his way into the box but his attempt missed the target. In the 27’ the Yellow & Blue stole the ball as Assayag fed Hen but his chance came up empty while 11 minutes later Assayag sent another pass to Hen but the ball was just out of his reach.

As the match hit the 40’ Cohen’s opportunity missed the goal by centimeters while Shahar’s chance two minutes later was cleared by the Anzhi defense as the side’s went into the break with Maccabi holding a 1:0 lead.

Second half
In the 53’ Anzhi had a chance in the box but Gamid Agalarov’s chance went over the bar, while three minutes later Assayag once again left the ball off for Hen but his long distance attempt flew over the goal. Anzhi continued to look for the equalizer as Itzhak was up to the task to make a nice save off of Magomedov.

The match continued in a back and forth manner and in the 70’ Guerrero left the ball for Berami but his 18’ meter shot was saved by the Anzhi keeper while 6 minutes later Mufleh Shalata raced down the pitch, crossed the ball from the left to Berami but his chance couldn’t find the target.

The visitor’s almost drew even in the 86’ but Agalarov’s chance from 6 meters out hit the post. In the 90’ a Maccabi fast break ended in Guerrero’s second goal of the match when he received the ball from Tal Yagudaev and found the back of the goal from 17 meters, 2:0 Maccabi. However, the striker didn’t stop there as the Panamanian marksman took a Shalata pass to give the Under-19 squad a 3:0 win and a ticket to the next round of the competition.

The Under-17 Israel National Team opened their European Championship Qualifying campaign in Macedonia. Five Yellow & Blue representatives are with the team in the tournament.

Gary Brumer’s squad defeated the Faroe Islands 6:0 on Saturday and Tuesday they took care of the host’s Macedonia 4:1 as Tal Torgeman scored a brace. The two wins ensured that the Blue & White will play in the Elite Round ahead of the European Championships. On Friday they’ll play Spain for first place in the group.

Maccabi Tel Aviv representatives:
Keeper: Ben Moasayof
Defenders: Shachar Rosen, Itay Ben Hemo
Midfielders: Niv Berkovic
Strikers: Tal Torgeman

Three Maccabi players were in the Starting XI for Israel against Macedonia: Moasayof, Ben Hemo and Shachar Rosen who all played 90 minutes. At the start of the second half Berkovic joined them while Torgeman was introduced in the 63’ giving him enough time to complete a brace in the 4:1 win.