Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv 1:0 Maccabi Netanya (U19)
After their European journey came to an end last week, Maccabi “Shachar” returned to domestic league action and picked up the win over Maccabi Netanya thanks to a second half goal by Gil Ben Shalosh. The match took place at the PenguinPickup Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom due to the winterization of the Ramle Stadium pitch. Guy Tzarfati’s squad remain in second place just one point off the top of the table. For the full match report click here.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 2:0 Hapoel Haifa (U17)
The Under-17 team returned from the break in style with a 2:0 win over Hapoel Haifa on Matchday 11 thanks to goals by Shaked Navon and Nehoray Bitton to stay atop the table. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the win: “We can split the match into two parts, a good first half with pace and a second half where the pace went down a few notches as well as the quality but we did have many good chances to score but came up short. All in all I’m happy with the victory and the way we are achieving our goals. We play Ashdod on Wednesday and then we have a Derby on Saturday, matches which will be interesting and challenging. We have to continue to play our way in both the league and State Cup.”

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
The Under-16 team is on break due to a winter tournament being played in Israel.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv 0:0 Hapoel Rishon Le’Zion (U15)
The Under-15 squad played to a goalless draw against Rishon Le’Zion on Matchday 10 of league play. The young Yellow & Blue are in second place, one point away from first. Head Coach Ori David commented on the draw: “We didn’t play enough quality football in this match. We didn’t recognize our advantages and therefore the match didn’t move for many minutes. During the second half we began playing up to par and we had many chances near the goal but weren’t accurate enough to score. This was also a match where we could have easily given up a goal and I’m happy that we didn’t. I’m proud of the guys and now we can begin preparing for the Cup game on Wednesday.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv got back to Israel Youth Premier League action on Matchday 11 after a three week break due to National Team activity. The contest against Maccabi Netanya was played at the PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom due to the pitch winterization at the Ramle Stadium as the Yellow & Blue entered the match in second place just one point off the top of the table. Netanya began the day in 12th place sporting just two wins so far this season.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included keeper Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Amit Glezer, Alon Shtrozberg, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glezer, Mufleh Shalata. Nadav NIdam, Rave Assayag, Bar Cohen and Eduardo Guerrero.

First Half
The match began very cautiously as both sides tried to control the pace of play over the first quarter hour with no chances on goal. In the 17’ Nidam sent a through ball into the box to Shalata but the Netanya defender was able to stop the threat.

In the 43’ Maccabi almost grabbed the lead when Nidam took the ball at midfield and took a 20 meter shot that just missed the target as the side’s went into the break goalless.

Second Half
The half began just as the match did with both squad’s not taking any unnecessary chances as the majority of play took place in the midfield. In the 60’ Chilaka sent a through ball to Omri Ram who had come on as a substitute but his attempt towards the goal went into the Netanya defense. Three minutes later, Netanya had their first chance of the clash when Adi Kabha took the ball in the box but Chilaka shut him down while in the 66’ Tal Yagudayev lifted a ball from the left side to Tamir Glezer but his 20 meter attempt went over the goal.

Ido Shahar tried his luck from long distance in the 70’ but his opportunity went out. Finally in the 74’ Maccabi broke the deadlock when Gil Ben Shalosh headed home a pinpoint perfect corner to give the young Yellow & Blue a 1:0 lead. Maccabi almost doubled their lead in the 82’ but Guerrero’s shot missed the target as the host’s wrapped up a 1:0 victory.

The Club’s Under-19 team, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv were eliminated from the UEFA Youth Champions League competition following a 2:2 draw with Sigma Olomouc. The two legged tie ended in a 3:3 aggregate score but the Czech side advanced on Ayla goals to the next round. Following the contest, Head Coach Guy Tzarfati summed up his squad’s performance in the tournament:

“After we ended the first leg in the Czech Republic 1:1 we knew that we couldn’t give up a goal at home and we paid the price when they drew 2:2 with us. We still had a pair of chances to score and advance, but that’s football. We didn’t lose, but the result didn’t help us move on in the competition. I’m happy with the players performance and the level of our club Maccabi Tel Aviv shucks operates at the highest levels. Our team was the youngest in Europe and I’m proud as to how we performed. Footballers and winners have to know how to fall and feel the pain. But we’ll now turn our sights on the Israeli league on Saturday.”

Disappointment:
“We’re very disappointed and this is how it should be. I’m disappointed and I won’t sleep well tonight but true winners and football clubs must know how to feel the pain of defeat. This type of loss, even though we didn’t lose on the pitch is tough we we have to know how to raise our spirits and get ready for League play.”

Looking towards the future:
“I think this was a mental lapse and the players hadn’t yet experienced this type of situation being in the Champions League. We felt like we had advanced and we were close, so the disappointment is even more bitter. But the players will have to learn how to deal with it if they want to one day play for the first team. Unfortunately, it happened today but hopefully in the future this will help them in the future.”

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI included keeper Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shahar, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster, Eduardo Guerrero, Eden Kartzev and Eyal Hen.

First Half
The visitor’s had the first chance of the match when a Michal Galus free kick found Jiri Kratochvil but his header went out, while a minute later Ondrej Zmrzly’s 18 meter attempt went by the post. The Yellow & Blue had their first opportunity in the 10’ when Shalata went down the right wing and sent a quality cross into the box, but the Sigma keeper Jakob Trefil caught the ball.

Hen had a 22’ attempt that went by the post for Maccabi while Daniel Grecmal almost found the back of the Yellow & Blue goal three minutes later following a Sigma corner. In the 26’ Shahar’s 18 meter attempt also went just wide of the post and five minutes before the break Shtrozberg tried to head the ball into the Sigma goal off a corner but Trefil made the save sending the match into the break goalless.

Second Half
With each side looking for a goal early on in the half, Sigma struck first as their captain Pavel Zifcak headed in a goal off a cross into the box to give the visitor’s a 1:0 advantage in the 51’. Maccabi didn’t get down after the goal and seven minutes later found the equalizer. Mahluf made his way into the area and sent a perfect pass to the central defender Shtrozberg who scored from 8 meters out to draw even at 1:1.

In the 68’ Shahar’s attempt was saved by the Sigma keeper and a minute later Yagudaev stole the ball but put it off the outside netting of the goal. The Yellow & Blue continued to press and in the 73’ Maccabi took a 2:1 lead when Bar Cohen sent a tremendous pass that Guerrero put home after going one on one with the Czech keeper to go up by one. However, Sigma found the equalizer in the 77’ when Zmrzly scored off a cross, 2:2.

Tzarfati’s squad looked for a go ahead goal and in the 86’ they almost found it but Glazer’s header missed the target and Cohen’s huge opportunity in injury time was taken care of by the keeper as Sigma Olomouc advanced to the next round of the UEFA Youth Champions League on away goals.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv is preparing in earnest for Wednesday’s contest (17:00) against Czech side Sigma Olomouc in the return leg of second round Youth Champions League play. The match will be held at Ramle Stadium and although there is no charge for entrance, every fan must have a ticket to enter the facility which can be picked up at the north ticket windows.

Guy Tzarfati’s Under-19 squad was then drawn against Sigma Olomouc in the second round and drew 1:1 in the Czech Republic. The host’s took a 1:0 lead in the 68’ while Shalata found the equalizer in the 87’ as he made his way by three defenders and found the back of the goal from 13 meters.

Tzarfati spoke about his club’s upcoming match:
“We have been preparing for this match as we always do for every game, from the players to the staff. But we’ve also put an emphasis on the tactical side of the game.”

Advancing to the next round:
“We know that a goalless draw will be enough for us to advance but we are preparing for a match that will have goals and we are taking that into account. The most important thing in these types of matches is to come with a lot of confidence and not to think about the result in the first leg, but with the goal of advancing to the next stage.”

Adrenaline pumping:
“I don’t think that the right word is excitement but readiness. The players have paid attention to us from the tactical side and the mental side of the game. I’m sure that as the contest approaches the adrenaline will really start pumping and that’s how it’s supposed to be.”

Maccabi’s future on display:
“I want to send a message to all of the Maccabi fans to come out and support us and come see the young players. It’s a chance to see that there is a future for the young Israeli player, especially those at Maccabi Tel Aviv. I’d be happy to see the fans come out and watch us, I hope to see everyone in Ramle.”

This will be the team’s first official match since going on break nearly three weeks ago as they will look to advance to the Playoff Round of the competition. Should they move on, Maccabi “Shachar” would be drawn against a team that finished in 2nd place of the tournament’s group stages with the potential to face one of the well known teams from Europe.

Two and half weeks ago, Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv played the first leg of their second round UEFA Youth Champions League tie against Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic. The young Yellow & Blue drew 1:1 before heading out to the international break. Since returning the team has had full training session in preparation for the return leg on Wednesday November 27th, 17:00 at the Ramle Stadium.

Please note: Entrance to the match is by ticket only (free). Tickets will be distributed on Matchday by the northern gate of the stadium.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv advanced to the second round of UEFA Youth Champions League action after falling in the first leg of the first round to Anzhi Makhachkala 2:3 as Eduardo Guerrero and Mufleh Shalata scored for Maccabi. The second leg saw the young Yellow & Blue defeat Anzhi Makhachkala 3:0 to advance on aggregate 5:3 thanks to a hat trick by Guerrero (7, 90, 90).

Maccabi “Shachar” was then drawn against Sigma Olomouc in the second round and drew 1:1 in the Czech Republic. The host’s took a 1:0 lead in the 68’ while Shalata found the equalizer in the 87’ as he made his way by three defenders and found the back of the goal from 13 meters.

On Wednesday, Maccabi “Shachar” will look to advance to the Playoff Round when they face Sigma at the Ramle Stadium at 17:00 in the return leg. Should they make it past Sigma the Under-19 side will be drawn against a team that finished in 2nd place of the competition’s group stages.