By, Danny Caro
2 min read
ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Maccabi Germany go into Day 2 of the European Maccabi Football Trophy in great shape after claiming four points out of a possible six against the respective Team Maccabi GB sides in the Open Football competition at Rowley Lane.
A strike from super-sub Adam Kaye secured a point for Team Maccabi GB Masters in the opener against the Germans, while on the other pitch Team Maccabi GB rode their luck to beat France 3-1.
France bossed the first 20 minutes and the woodwork rescued the Brits twice early on.
But it was the hosts who forged ahead on 17 minutes as Yoav Kestenbaum held off his marker to fire across the keeper and into the bottom corner from an acute angle against the run of play.
GB doubled their advantage with their second shot on 27 minutes. An excellent long diagonal pass from the impressive Josh Morris was rifled past the keeper by Faithfold Rocky Spitzer.
NLR's Jonny Kay scored the goal of the game with GB's third - producing a Hoddle-esque chip into the top corner from 30 yards.
The second half was a war of attrition, with France pulling one back with a speculative 35-yarder that whistled past Russell Corin.
Play resumed after lunch, with Team Maccabi GB lining up against Germany on grass, while French fans were looking for an immediate reaction against the Masters.
After a goalless first half in which GB were the superior team, again it was Kestenbaum who put them ahead as the team managed by Jonathan Green and Rob Richman looked on course to book the win that would cement their place in the final.
But the Germans did not let their heads drop and they levelled soon after when a precision cross was headed past Corin, with the GB defence flat-footed.
With the bit between their teeth, Germany went in search of the winner and it came around 10 minutes from time - much to the delight of the travelling fans.
And with France thumping GB Masters 7-0 on the 3G, the teams go in Sunday's finale with the competition wide open, with Germany on four points, GB and France on three points and GB Masters on 1.
The action starts early on Sunday, with Team Maccabi GB and Team Maccabi GB Masters going head-to-head at 8.45am - just hours after England's World Cup opener against Italy - while Germany take on France.
The Futsal competitions also got under way on Friday, with Team Maccabi GB Masters impressing on their way to second in the Men's competition, behind France, while Germany bossed the Women's event.
There were also good performances from Team Maccabi GB, Gibraltar and Holland in the Men's, while Holland and Team Maccabi GB completed the line-up in the Women's.
Performance of the day goes to the Team Maccabi GB Masters who beat Team Maccabi GB 8-1.
