Maccabi-Hakoah U14s win ‘champions’ quarter-final
The Maccabi-Hakoah U14 boys’ football team arrived for their 2022 Football NSW Champion of Champions quarter-final match at Valentine Sports Park in high spirits, ready to play to their potential against a team from White City who had taller players.
Not intimidated, the Maccabi boys brought their A game, and scored first when Ryan Hirschowitz latched onto a well-placed corner kick, and slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Shortly after, White City equalised, but Maccabi – coached by Michael Synnott – retained the lead 10 minutes later when Zac Strasser scored.
The see-sawing nature of the game continued moments later, when White City scored a penalty goal, and just before half-time, Maccabi hit back through a Mark Greenberg goal, to lead 3-2.
The second half was surprisingly goalless, with Maccabi’s backs working hard as a unit to keep the opposition at bay, while Maccabi’s forwards narrowly missed several shots on goal.
Maccabi held on for a gutsy 3-2 win, booking their place in this Sunday’s semi-finals, when they will take on Pitt Town FC at a match scheduled for 10.15am at Heffron Synthetic Field.
All members of the team put their bodies on the line in the physical match, but a special shout out goes to Lior Katz, who suffered a broken ankle during the game.
His teammates wish him a speedy recovery.
While the U14 boys’ advanced, the Jewish club’s U15 boys’ team were dealt some very bad luck ahead of their quarter-final match against the Camden Tigers.
All games scheduled for last Sunday on grounds that were going to be washed out, were rescheduled to last Saturday onto a synthetic pitch in the north-western suburbs, and due to a significant proportion of Maccabi-Hakoah’s U15s unable to play during Shabbat, the team had no choice but to forfeit.
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