Games We Play - Soccer: Late surge leads Maccabi GB over Anglo Israel Masters 6-3

Games We Play - Soccer

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
games we play soccer 248.88 (photo credit: )
games we play soccer 248.88
(photo credit: )
Recently formed over 40's team Anglo Israel Masters put up a very determined and encouraging performance but ultimately went down 6-3 against Maccabi GB on Friday morning at Betar Jerusalem's training ground in Bet Hakerem. Maccabi GB fielded some of the players that had won the Gold Medal at 2009 Maccabiah Games in its third match of their one week football tour of Israel. Anglo Israel, captained by Robert Black and managed on the day by David Waimann, is a newly formed team comprising of mainly Anglo olim. The team has been training over the last few weeks and entered the match as complete underdogs against the experienced British outfit. The match was very even for the first twenty five minutes, with AI having the clearer chance. But just before the half hour GB scored through captain Jonathan Holman. AI battled back and within five minutes had equalized with Moshe Frankfurter finishing off a good move involving David Horovitz and Ivan Daniels. But GB wasn't finished yet, coming back to score either side of half time through Martin Lerner and Mark Morris - the most prolific goalscorer in Jewish soccer in the last twenty years . At 3-1 the match entered a vital stage and AI kept battling. The home defense was superbly marshaled by David Taylor, Michael Rose and Sid Knopp, while Ryan Hass was making strong surging runs up the right wing and Ivan Daniels and Chaim Gitler were looking very dangerous up front. The GB goal came under pressure and within ten minutes AI had drawn level at 3-3 with two very well taken goals from the constantly threatening David Kovler. Only some superb goalkeeping from Lennie Wise, including an outstanding diving save from AI's Dunga, stopped AI from taking the lead. After seventy minutes the greater fitness level of GB began to count, and, with some of AI struggling with injuries, GB started creating more chances. Eventually three goals in the last ten minutes from Morris (2) and Holman gave GB a rather flattering scoreline. The match was played in great spirits and AI will now look to play other local teams and prepare for the return match against Maccabi GB who have stated that will tour Israel again next year.