The Under-19 squad hosted Hapoel Ramat Gan on Matchday 6 of the Youth Premier League. The young Yellow & Blue entered the contest in 2nd place and undefeated whole Hapoel Ramat Gan were in second to last place on the table with one win.

Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Dan Lugassi, Tomer Mahluf, Ido Shachar, Mufleh Shalata, Yoav Hofmayster (C), Bar Cohen, Tal Yagudaev and Eduardo Guerrero.

First Half
The Yellow & Blue began the match strong and in the 2’ left back Mahluf received the ball on the left wing but sent his shot out while 7 minutes later, Ramat Gan tried their luck when Hod Mesika’s long distance chance went over the goal. In the 10’ Shachar’s shot also went over the bar.

Maccabi continued to attack and in the 27’ Hofmayster took the ball on the left wing and sent a gorgeous cross into the box, but Guerrero couldn’t get to the ball in time as it went out. A minute later Cohen was able to get the ball over the Ramat Gan defense but Shachar’s acrobatic shot from the air was saved when Yuval Sadeh was just able to get his fingertips on the ball to send it to safety. In the 37’ Mesika’s opportunity went out as the half ended goalless.

Second Half
In the 50’ Cohen’s free kick went by the post while five minutes later, the same Cohen sent a through ball over the defenders and Shalata was able to get a foot on the ball, however, the ball sent over the bar. Tzarfati’s squad had a great chance to score when Cohen again placed a perfect through ball to Yagudaev who sent it to Guerrero it his opportunity went out.

As the match headed into the 68’, Mahluf sent Guerrero a fantastic ball who in turn handed it off to Rave Assayag who had come on as a substitute, but couldn’t get his foot on the ball. Two minutes later Cohen’s free kick hit the post and in the 75’ the Yellow & Blue were reduced to 10 men when Shtrozberg was issued a straight red card as he stopped a Hapoel Ramat Gan player as he made his way towards the goal

In the 80’ a long range shot almost beat Itzhak, but the shot stopper was just able to deflect the ball off of the post and it went out for a corner. Ten minutes later as the match wound down, Asaf Hershko who had come on as a substitute had a chance from long range but the ball went out as the side’s split the points in a a goalless draw.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv – Hapoel Ramat Gan, October 9th, 18:00 at Ramle (U19)
After falling to Anzhi 3:2 in Russia in UEFA Youth Champions League play, Guy Tzarfati’s squad will return to Israel Youth Premier League action on Tuesday on Matchday 6 against Hapoel Ramat Gan.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Bnei Sakhnin, 11:00 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U17)
After a midweek 6:3 win over Beitar Jerusalem the Under-17’s return home to face Bnei Sakhnin on Matchday 7 of League play. The Yellow & Blue are in first place while the visitor’s sit in 10th.

Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv – Beitar Tubruk, 9:00 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U16)
Beitar Tubruk pays a visit to Maccabi’s Under-16 squad on Matchday 6 as they’ll look to get back onto the winning track. A victory will move the Under-16 side ahead of Tubruk on the table.

Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv – Sektzia Nes Ziona, 8:30 PenguinPickUp Training Ground at Kiryat Shalom (U15)
After a midweek 3:3 draw against Kiryat Gat, the Under-15 team will look to get back to their winning ways at home on Matchday 4 of league action. Nes Ziona currently finds themselves in last place with 3 losses in as many games.

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv began their Youth Champions League journey when they fell to Anzhi Makhachkala 3:2 in the first leg of their two legged tie.

The UEFA Champions League Domestic Champions Path is a knockout tournament. Should the young Yellow & Blue advance two stages they will appear in the Playoff Stage where the Domestic Champions Path and Group Stage Path will meet.

Maccabi “Shachar” Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Yoav Hofmayster, Tomer Mahluf, Tamir Glazer (C), Mufleh Shalata, Nadav Nidam, Eduardo Guerrero, Bar Cohen, Eyal Hen.

First Half
Maccabi’s first chance came in the 8’ when Shalata received the ball on the right side but his cross was cleared while 4’ minutes later Tzarfati’s squad had an attempt when Chilaka tried his luck from long distance but the ball hit Shalata and went out.

Shalata was dangerous again in the 13’ when he went by a defender on the right side but the Anzhi keeper Timur Magomedov was able to clear the threat. The Russian side had a chance in the 25’ it their cross was cleared. The next opportunity was Maccabi’s and they made sure to take full advantage of it.

In the 36’ Cohen’s right side free kick found Guerrero’s head in the box as the Panamanian sent the ball behind Magomedov for a 1:0 advantage. The final ten minutes of the half was spent primarily in the midfield as the young Yellow & Blue took the slim lead into the break.

Second Half
Anzhi was able to quickly draw even in the 49’ when Magomednabi Yagyayev found the goal after the ball deflected off of Chilaka, 1:1. But just three minutes later, the Yellow & Blue regained the lead when Chillaka passed the ball to Shalata who beat his defender as sent a perfect shot into the far corner, 2:1 Maccabi.

Anzhi almost evened up the match in the 62’ but Itzhak made the initial save off of Valentin Andyamov‘s chance while the rebound attempt was sent over the goal. Itzhak was up to the task yet again in the 66’ making the alert stop on Yagyayev. However, in the 70’ they did draw even when a corner kick made its way into the Maccabi area and Alikadi Saidov scored from in close, 2:2.

In the 74’ Gil Ben Shalosh who had come on as a substitute took a chance from long distance but Magomedov made the save but nine minutes later at the other end of the pitch Anzhi took a 3:2 advantage. Gamid Agalarov took the ball at midfield, moved up on the left side and sent a shot into the back of the goal as the Russians took the lead for the first time in the contest which they held until full time.

Maccabi “Shachar Tel Aviv, the Israel Youth Premier League Champions headed to Russia to play Anzhi Makhachkala in the Youth Champions League. Tomorrow, Wednesday, the match will begin at 17:30 Israel time will be the first leg of a two legged knockout round tie in UEFA Champions League Domestic Champions Path knockout stage action. Today the squad held their final training session ahead of the contest. Should the young Yellow & Blue advance two stages they will appear in the Playoff Stage where the Domestic Champions Path and Group Stage Path will meet.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati spoke about the upcoming tie:
“I am very excited and proud. To be able to play in a European competition like the Champions League is an amazing accomplishment and achievement.”

Preparations for the competition:
“We prepared as we usually do ahead of this match. We look at the team that we are facing and give the players the correct tools as we do before any match.”

Expectations for the match:
“We want to go as far as possible in the competition and therefore are preparing for each match one by one just as we are doing for the contest in Russia. I’m happy that the players will have this type of experience and I hope that it will be a positive one.”

Domestic Champions path guide
This path involves the domestic youth champions of the 32 best-ranked associations in the 2017 UEFA association coefficient rankings (the same rankings used to decide access to the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League).
Vacancies in the domestic champions path (because a club is instead eligible for the UEFA Champions League path, for example Atlético and Inter) are filled by the domestic youth champion of the next best-ranked association (in the above cases, Moldova and Iceland).
Chelsea, who won this competition in 2014/15 and 2015/16 but lost last season’s final to Barcelona, enter this path.
Two-time semi-finalists Anderlecht keep up their record of entering all six editions.
Debuts: AEL Limassol, Anji, Bohemians, FC Admira, Hamilton Academical, Hertha Berlin, Illés Akadémia, Lech Poznań, KR, Montpellier, Septemvri Sofia, Signa Olomouc, Žilina.

Road to Nyon
Play-offs
In the draw on 17 December, the eight Domestic Champions path survivors will be drawn at home to the eight UEFA Champions League path runners-up in one-off ties to be played on 12/13 February to decide the eight remaining round of 16 berths. The other eight places are taken by the UEFA Champions League path group winners.
Dates
Play-off draw: 17 December
Play-offs: 19/20 February
Knockout draw (round of 16 onwards): 22 February
Round of 16: 12/13 February
Quarter-finals: 2/3 April
Semi-final: 26 April, Nyon
Final: 29 April, Nyon

Maccabi Petah Tikva 3:3 Maccabi Tel Aviv (U19)
After the dramatic Tel Aviv Derby win last week, the Yellow & Blue drew at Petah Tikva on Matchday 5 of the Israel Youth Premier League. Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s squad now has 3 wins and 2 draws and are in 2nd place just one point off the table leaders Hapoel Beer Sheva. Rave Assayag, Bar Cohen and Gil Ben Shalosh scored for Maccabi. For the Full Match Report Click Here.

On Wednesday the U19’s will play their first Champions League match at FC Anzhi Makhachkala in the first leg of a two legged tie to advance to the next round.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv 2:0 Maccabi Petah Tikva (U17)
The Under-17 side continued their positive momentum with a win over Petah Tikva on Matchday 5. The win opened up a 3 point gap as they improved their first place standing thanks to goals by Tal Torjman and Afek Sapir. Head Coach Eliezer Ben Aharon summed up the win: “We performed well and had the right desire and determination on the pitch as we all have the same goal and that’s how I would sum up the game. One of the most exciting things as a staff is to see how the squad is focussed and determined with the desire to perform well in this specific match. We can all feel the positive results from the hard work that has been put in. We have another important match this week on Tuesday and we know what the goals and expectations are; we want to win every match at every stadium. The staff is very proud and that’s how we want to continue on Tuesday.

Beitar Jerusalem 3:2 Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv (U16)
The Under-16 team fell at Jerusalem on Matchday 5. Goals by Yinon Paz and Aviv Peles weren’t enough for the Yellow & Blue to come home with a point. Head Coach Eran Sassi spoke about the match that was: “The game began awkwardly and we gave up a goal after just one minute. We then scored a minute later but gave up another goal soon thereafter. We were the better side and that’s why we were able to tie up the contest in the second half. We had many chance but we couldn’t score and we gave up the winner in injury time off a corner kick after a comedy of errors.”

SC Ironi Ashdod 1:2 Maccabi “Eldad” Tel Aviv (U15)
After an opening day win last week, the Under-15 side continued its fine play with an away win thanks to goals by Oral Bahia and Ilai Tomer. Head Coach Ori David summed up the victory: “This was a terrific match by the boys as we had plenty of chances near the goal thanks to the way we play football. The result is a bit misleading as it should have been a bigger win than just 2:0. I’m proud of the squad and are looking forward to our next match on Tuesday.”

Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv headed to Maccabi Petah Tikva in Matchday 5 of the Israel Youth Premier League. The Yellow & Blue began the day in 1st place with 3 wins and a draw while the host’s were in 2nd place on the table.

Head Coach Guy Tzarfati’s Starting XI: Or Itzhak, Michael Chilaka, Alon Shtrozberg, Amit Glazer, Tomer Machluf, Tamir Glazer, Eduardo Guerrero, Yoav Hofmayster, Rave Assayag, Omer Barami, Eyal Hen

First Half
The Yellow & Blue had their first chance of the match in the 1’ as a cross went to Guerrero but his tough angled shot was taken care of by the opposing keeper Dor Hevron, however, two minutes later they found the back of the goal to take a 1:0 lead. Chilaka received the ball on the right wing and lifted it into the box where Assayag took advantage of a poor clearance by Petah Tikva and sent the ball into the corner.

In the 11’ the host’s almost drew even when Eyali Hen took the ball in the box and was one on one with Itzhak who replaced an injured Daniel Peretz, but his attempt hit the post while he sent the rebound into a Maccabi defender that went out for a corner. Five minutes later a nice give and go between Barami and Hen left the former with a chance from 20 meters out but Hevron made the save.

Each side traded chances over the next quarter hour as Maccabi almost doubled their advantage in the 38’ when a through ball from Tamir Glazer went to Hen who sent it to Assayag, but his shot towards the corner just missed the post and went out. However, two minutes later, the host’s drew even at 1:1 when Tal Danon sent a through ball to Arad Bar who found the back of the goal as the sides headed into the half deadlocked.

Second Half
Bar Cohen came in as a substitute and had a chance in the box but the Petah Tikva keeper made the stop. In the 56’ the Yellow & Blue took the lead when Hofmayster passed the ball to Cohen who moved up 20 meters and sent a terrific shot with his left foot that beat Hevron for a 2:1 advantage.

In the 64’ Itzhak made a timely save with his fingertips but three minutes later, the host’s drew even once again as Liel Abada found the corner of the Maccabi goal, 2:2. Then Petah Tikva almost took the lead when Abada’s chance in the box went screaming towards Itzhak but the Maccabi shot stopper was able to use his quick reflexes to send the ball off the bar.

However, the host’s took the lead in the 76’ when the referee pointed to the spot after a player was pulled down in the box, good for a penalty which Ori Artzi converted for a 3:2 advantage to Petah Tikva. But 4 minutes later the Yellow & Blue tied up the contest when Cohen’s corner went into the area and was headed by a Maccabi player off of the post, however, Gil Ben Shalosh pounced on the rebound and scored to draw even at 3:3.

Guy Tzarfati’s squad would have a pair of chances to win the match as Guerrero and Tal Yagudayev each had opportunities but Hevron made a couple of saves to keep the score as is as the team’s split the points.

Maccabi Petah Tikva – Maccabi “Shachar” Tel Aviv, 12:00 Petah Tikva Synthetic (U19)
After last week’s dramatic Derby victory, the Under-19 squad heads to Petah Tikva for a top of the table clash on Matchday 5 of the Israel Premier League. Guy Tzarfati’s side is in 1st place while the host’s sit in 2nd.

Maccabi “Oded” Tel Aviv – Maccabi Petah Tikva, 9:30 PenguinPickUp Training Ground Kiryat Shalom 1 (U17)
Following the win at Ashdod last Matchday, the young Yellow & Blue will host Petah Tikva in Israel Premier League action. Eliezer Ben Aharon’s side are in 1st place while the visitor’s are in 7th but the gap between the two stands at only 3 points.

Beitar Jerusalem – Maccabi “Eli Fuchs” Tel Aviv, 8:45 Jerusalem Bayit Vegan Upper 2 Synthetic (U16)
The Under-16 team visits the capital city where they will meet Beitar on Matchday 5. The Yellow & Blue are in 6th place after winning 2 and losing once while the host’s are in 12th place with one win.

SC Ashdod – Maccabi “Eldad”, 11:15 Ashdod (U15)
After a win last week, the Under-15 squad will head to Ashdod on their second Matchday of the season. The host’s fell to Maccabi Petah Tikva 6:1 last week in league play.