Team Maccabi GB's three football squads have returned home from the Pan American Maccabi Games in Mexico empty-handed, albeit in a tournament decided by small margins.
July 17, 2019 10:14
TEAM MACCABI GB OVER-35 TOURNAMENT REVIEW
The 35s acquitted themselves superbly, but in this the most brutal of competitions (playing six times in eight days at altitude), they came up just short on the pitch, but won friends and admirers from all with whom they competed.
GAME ONE - GB 1 MEXICO 2
It’d be fair to say they didn’t get the rub of the green they’d have needed with a few decisions, in tight games these may have helped. But these were good teams with some top players. They opened the tournament with an 8am kick-off against the hosts in front of more than 1,000 spectators at the superb CDI, a centre for the community in Mexico that GB can only look at with envy.
An even game saw the hosts take the lead with a superb strike from the edge of the box, but when Nick Goodman levelled with a smart finish from Saul Conway’s cross, GB began to dream. But from the restart, with four Brits still in the opposition half, Mexico immediately restored their lead with another quality strike despite the protests. And push as they did, with Lee Cash striking the bar in the last minute, they couldn’t find a second equaliser.
GAME TWO - GB 0 USA 1
Following the Opening Ceremony that night, in which 35s manager Dan Jacobs had the honour of being the flag bearer, the side took on the USA on Monday morning, and fell behind early on to an absolute stunner, a hooked in volley from 25 yards that left Rob Abrahams helpless. The USA defended well in a blood and thunder game, holding on to the slender lead until the final whistle.
GAME THREE - GB 1 CHILE 2
Chile were up next the very next day, and with three games in three days the side eventually were punished for a sloppy start in which they conceded twice. Nick Goodman finished off a stunning GB move to reduce the deficit before he hit the post just shy of half-time.
It was all GB, and when Josh Bentley volleyed home Nathan Ezair’s fine cross a comeback win was on. Chances came and went, Conway when clean through was hacked down as the Chilean took one for the team and was red-carded. GB couldn’t find the equaliser, and with the final kick of the game a tired shanked cross on the counter ended up finding the far corner and a third defeat by the narrowest of margins.
GAME FOUR - GB 1 ARGENTINA 2
After a rest day ,the side took on Argentina and put in the best performance of the tournament against a seriously good opponent. With the game goalless at the break, GB being the better side, a crazy storm saw the pitch waterlog in a matter of minutes. With medal positions on the line, the sides agreed to re-convene under lights at the CDI four hours later to play out a cracking second half.
Argentina took the lead, but when Dan Stanton slammed home after Jon Ellis’ shot was saved GB pushed hard. Clean through two vs one in the final minute, the ref pulled the game back for a GB free-kick – a decision that almost ended in a riot! And it helped little that again, in stoppage time, Argentina went down the other end and slammed in a winner via another cracker from outside the box.
If GB hadn’t realised already it was pretty clear now the footballing gods were against us! Or that we lacked that little X-factor that these other teams all seemed to have.
GAME FIVE - GB 1 BRAZIL 1
Things got no easier with a final group game against Brazil, the reigning (and soon to be retaining) champions. A superb start saw Craig Pearl’s trademark finish give the side an early lead, one that should have been doubled when Conway was crudely upended in the box only to be bizarrely accused of diving by the referee. Stand-in skipper Lee Cash then saw his effort ruled out for off-side as GB’s great start continued, but the Brazilians came back into it and grabbed a leveller shortly before the break. Both teams pushed for a winner but none came, but another fine competitive game in which the side showed their mettle and qualities.
GAME SIX - GB 2 USA 2
This left them a playoff (a seventh match in eight days) and a chance to avenge the earlier defeat to the USA. Stanton and Greg Corin both struck the crossbar as GB pushed from the off, but despite dominating two lapses of concentration were punished either side of the interval. This side never give up though, and summoned up the energy from somewhere, Adam Harvey driving the side on, to claw themselves a lifeline when Curtis Bitton-Price finished off another fine team move. With the clock ticking down it was finally GB’s turn for some late goal drama, Lee Cash lobbing the keeper to earn a deserved draw.
GB manager Dan Jacobs said: "While the results tell one story, they don’t paint the picture of an incredible adventure. This is a superb squad who gave their all in every game, superbly led by skipper Alex Levack.
"On another day each and every result could have been different but it wasn’t to be. This was a fantastic competition of a high standard that was a joy to be a part of, and to a man the group return having loved it and hoping it is the start of a journey rather than the end."
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TEAM MACCABI GB OVER-45 TOURNAMENT REVIEW
MATCH ONE - GB 0 MEXICO 1
The O45 competition became defined by the opening ten minutes of their first game against Mexico. Playing at The Reforma Athletic Club, which hosted the England ‘86 World Cup squad, GB lost key man Jonny Rayner to a calf injury in the warm-up and within the first minute conceded a goal to their hosts.
GB’s response was almost instant with both Bradley Lazarus and Tim Levene striking the crossbar in the same move. As the Mexicans stubbornly sat on their lead chances were few and far between and in the second half only a brilliant save from their ‘keeper denied vice-captain Laurence Newman’s 25-yard dipping free-kick.
With seconds remaining GB were caught on the break and conceded a penalty but goalkeeper Adam Solomons made a superb save to keep the deficit at a single goal.
MATCH TWO - GB 2 PERU 2
24 hours later, and after a superb opening ceremony attended by 3,000 athletes and over 15,000 supporters, GB faced Peru. Defensive errors saw GB two goals behind within 20 minutes but a brilliant Simon Corney guided volley following a defensive splitting pass from Lazarus and a pinpoint cross from Paul Lenchner reduced the arrears before half-time. GB pressed for an equaliser and pinned the Peru defence back and were rewarded on the hour when a through ball by Tony Gold was flicked on by Lazarus to Lenchner who raced clear and slotted the ball into the bottom corner from just inside the box.
At this stage the question was how many goals would GB get but five minutes later a harsh red card saw Mark Wagman sent off and the game turned. Only stout defending from Danny Schweiger, Newman and James Pincus ensured a point was gained.
MATCH THREE - GB 0 USA 0
GB totally dominated their next game against USA, with Tim Levene and Wagman spurning glorious chances and Lazarus’s strike from the edge of the box bringing an outstanding save from the ‘keeper. However a goalless draw meant only a win in their final group game against Chile would see GB in a medal game.
MATCH THREE - GB 1 CHILE 1
Unfortunately, despite Andy Miller doing an expert man marking job throughout on the Chilean playmaker, another defensive lapse saw GB go behind again but before half-time skipper Hadley Silver brought them level with a crisp volley from the edge of the box from a Lenchner cross.
For the fourth game in succession GB chased a second half goal to swing things their way but were unable to create any clear cut opportunities and the game finished level, meaning a fifth placed finish in the group.
FRIENDLY MATCH - GB 0 PERU 1
GB finished with a friendly against Peru and after watching the climax of the cricket World Cup final pre-game, the mood was buoyant and in true Maccabiah spirit the sides united for some Hora dancing before kick-off.!The match saw little action in the stifling heat although Lazarus saw a penalty hit the post and Peru scored a deflected goal in the final minutes.
The 19-man over 45s squad, led by Darryl Lee MBE and Adam Solomons, embodied the Maccabiah spirit and played a full part both on and off the field throughout in a brilliantly organised Games.
Lee said: “It was an honour to lead a GB football team at a second PanAm games and whilst we didn’t get the results we wanted, the margins were very fine and we had chances in every game.
"The heat and altitude put us at a big disadvantage to our South American rivals and ultimately we were undone by our lack of goals in a very tight tournament.”
Solomons added: “In 25 years of Maccabiah participation, this was the best run Games I have ever participated in and it was an honour to be part of it.
"Winning medals is getting harder each time as the standard of football continues to improve across all Maccabiah Masters teams.”
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TEAM MACCABI GB OVER-55 TOURNAMENT REVIEW
Results-wise, the 55's were the most successful MGB football squad - winning two and drawing one of their five games. Like the 45s, they finished fifth in their age category in a competition where every winning result was by a one-goal margin.
A tight schedule saw them play five matches in seven day, including two in two at 9,000 altitude. "It was tough and some players were gasping for air," said MGB's Arthur Duke.
MGB confirmed fifth place by beating Chile, with Pete Lazard finishing as their top-scorer with two goals.
Duke went on to say: "A few things went against us against USA but we were superb against Mexico, coming from two goals down to draw 2-2. We also had a last-minute goal ruled out by the Mexican official.
"Tournament football is often settled by small margins and from a football perspective we came away a little disappointed.
"Overall it was an amazing trip. The Mexicans were very friendly and Mexico City is a great city. The facilities were brilliant and the whole event was very well organised. It was a great experience all-round, with fantastic camaraderie and an amazing spirit throughout."