Super League success sparks side

MACCABI-HAKOAH’S Super League coach Gareth Naar has described his team’s grand final win on Saturday night as the most important in the club’s history.

The Jewish side, which finished the regular season undefeated, edged Western City Crusaders in a penalty shoot-out to claim the championship.

“We played the team that beat us in the semifinal, 6-2, and so it was a good win,” Naar said.

“We’ve had some tough weeks and we’ve been training now for more than two years non-stop and sometimes it’s hard to keep motivated, so we’ve been looking for a spark.

“This brought the squad back together and while it isn’t the most prestigious win, it was one of the most important we have ever had.”

Maccabi-Hakoah’s Futsalroos representative Jarrod Basger scored the first goal of the match in the 12th minute.

Despite pressure from the Crusaders, who were desperate to level the ledger, Maccabi-Hakoah held the lead into the half-time break.

Brett Rosenberg extended Maccabi-Hakoah’s lead in the 40th minute of the match and the grand-final win looked secure until the Crusaders scored two goals in the last 10 minutes of the match.

“We had the chance to finish the game off but we didn’t do it and so when they scored the two goals the match became very interesting,” said Naar.

Neither team could break the deadlock in extra time and the match was sent to a penalty shoot-out, which Maccabi won 3-2.

JOSHUA LEVI

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