Maccabi Tel Aviv Shachar U19 Sweep Past Hapoel Rishon Lezion Yehuda in Israel Youth Cup

Maccabi Tel Aviv Shachar U19 produced a dominant performance to beat Hapoel Rishon Lezion Yehuda U19 3-0 in the Israel Youth Cup on 13 May 2026. The match at the Kiryat Shalom training ground saw the hosts advance to the next round with a clinical display.

Match Overview

From the first whistle, Maccabi Tel Aviv's academy side showed why they are among the favourites for the cup. They pressed high, moved the ball quickly, and created chance after chance. Hapoel Rishon Lezion defended resolutely but could not withstand the constant pressure.

Key Moments

• 16' – Maccabi open the scoring: Attacking midfielder Tomer Cohen slotted home after a neat one-two on the edge of the box.
• 38' – Second goal before half-time: Winger Yonatan Levi curled a left-footed shot into the far corner from 20 yards.
• 62' – Third goal seals the win: Substitute striker Omri Baruch headed home from a corner to make it 3-0.

Tactical Story

Maccabi Tel Aviv's 4-3-3 allowed their front three to interchange positions, confusing the Hapoel defence. The midfield trio controlled tempo, and full-backs regularly overlapped to create overloads. Hapoel's deep defensive block held firm for long spells but lacked the legs to close down shooting angles.

Standout Players

• Yonatan Levi (Maccabi Tel Aviv Shachar): A constant threat on the wing, scoring a stunning goal and providing an assist.
• Tomer Cohen (Maccabi Tel Aviv Shachar): Orchestrated attacks from midfield and took his goal well.
• Idan Shapira (Hapoel Rishon Lezion Yehuda): Made several crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Cup Journey

Maccabi Tel Aviv Shachar now advance to the quarter-finals of the Israel Youth Cup, where they will face another top-tier academy side. The win continues a strong season for the U19 team, who are also challenging for the league title. Hapoel Rishon Lezion can be proud of their cup run but will now focus on league development.