Late flurry breaks Maccabi hearts
NORTH Caulfield Maccabi was left to rue another missed opportunity when it stumbled against Berwick on Sunday, losing 3-2.
NORTH Caulfield Maccabi was left to rue another missed opportunity when it stumbled against Berwick on Sunday, losing 3-2.
After a scoreless first half, Berwick was first on the board, but the home side hit back to take a 2-1 lead, before conceding twice in 20 minutes, including the fortuitous winner, seconds from injury time.
After an uneventful first half, it was action stations at the restart. Gideon Sweet came close to opening the scoring after a sprint down the right wing, but it was Berwick that managed to break the deadlock just a few minutes later, when a rebound off the post was fired into the back of the net.
The lead was short-lived however, with Sweet taking advantage of a delightful lateral pass from Graham Evans, and beating the keeper with a curling left-foot shot.
Seven minutes later, Maccabi midfield maestro Amgad Marieh picked out Nat Vardi in a crowded box, the latter rifling a shot that took a heavy deflection on its way to the back of the net to give the Maccabi side a 2-1 lead.
Maccabi conceded a second goal soon after, but looked to have the quick reply when Marieh put Evans clear through on goal, only to be adjudged offside.
Substitute Lefti Arhontogiorgis, who was on debut, had a chance to send his side ahead again, but he sprayed his volley well over the bar in a costly miss.
Moments before injury time, a free kick was awarded to Berwick, and a mistimed header in the box, went straight to ground, over the outstretched keeper and into the goal.
The Reserves played out a 3-3 draw against Berwick. Ari Lashansky equalised in the first half when he headed home after he received a long cross from a set piece.
After conceding another two goals early in the second half, it was left to Adam Fridman to score a brace of goals to level the game. The first came after a defensive blunder allowed him to steal the ball and shoot truly, with the second coming after a through-ball put him one-on-one with the keeper.
North Caulfield Maccabi plays Fitzroy on Sunday, June 19, at 3pm.
Caulfield Park (Melway 59 C11)
DANIEL OPAT
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