Maccabiah - Day 10
Team GB have lost the final of the Men's Open after a dramatic 3-2 penalty shoot-out defeat against Argentina.
GB had been leading the game for 88 minutes thanks to Sam Sloma's early strike though there was first heartache for them when they conceded an 88th minute equaliser, and then in the lottery of the shoot-out.
PHOTOGALLERY
Under a cacophony of noise - most of it from the loudspeaker as opposed to from the crowd, the temperature is 31c in Haifa, with the scheduled kick-off of 7pm local time, going to be delayed as the teams are still yet to come out of the tunnel.
Game has kicked off nearly 15 minutes late, with Argentina having the first sighter on goal, though the number 10 blazed the ball over from the edge of the box.
With ten minutes on the clock, it's been pretty even stevens. Argentina have had the earlier attempts at goal, but GB are getting a foothold in the game. Looking threatning down the flanks, particularly down the right-hand side, they have plenty of support in the stands, who are making all the noise in the opening exchanges.
Quarter of an hour in, Argentina have shaded it in terms of possession, though on the whole, GB's defence has looked as resilient as it has done over the past three games.
Goalkeeper Andy Goldman was called into action for the first meaningful time in the 17th minute when he was called into action to catch a cross-come-shot which was fired in from the side of the penalty box.
However, despite GB hardly threatening, with 22 minutes on the clock, they open the scoring. Paul Hakim shrugged off his marker, slipped a perfect ball into the path of Sam Sloma who kept his composure to steer the ball home.
With the players off for drinks halfway through the first half, things are looking good for Team GB.
Things could have been even better with 35 minutes on the clock as the two who linked up for the goal manufactured another chance, However, on this ocassion, Hakim's cross found Sloma with a diving header though he was unable to keep it on target.
Mitch Hahn did get his free-kick on target three minutes later though saw the Argentine goalkeeper fist it away. The chances were now coming thick and fast for GB. When James Gershfield saw his shot charged down, Hakim saw his effort from the rebound deflected wide for a corner, as the shot dropped inches away from the far post. From the resulting corner, Guy Morris just failed to connect as the ball flew across the face of the box.
With the second half underway, Hahn let fly with a 30-yard free-kick minutes which the Argentine goalkeeper held at the second attempt. A minute later Hakim found himself running through on the angle, though despite a vain effort saw the keeper get to the ball a mili-second before him as he looked get a strike in to double the lead.
Looking to be in the ascendency early on in the break, an inswinging corner from Hahn caused problems for the Argentine defence though the South Americans eventually cleared their lines.
With just over an hour gone, the game seems to have entered something of a lull. GB still look the more threatening of the two sides, though right now it's only the crowd and the horns that are providing any noteworthy moments. Having said that, Argentina have just nearly scrambled in an equaliser though GB manage to clear their lines.
Halfway through the half, the players go off for drinks as GB look to gather themselves for one final push to become Maccabiah champions.
Refreshed and ready to go, GB come within a whisker of doubling their lead. It will come as no surprise to learn that Hakim and Sloma were involved again. The former sending in a vicious cross across the face of goal, though Sloma on the stretch was just unable to convert.
Hakim, who's proving to be a constant threat throughout then saw a shot deflected wide for a corner, from which Hahn went close with a dipping 20-yard strike.
Hakim then had a much better chance to double the lead when he found himself played through however, as he attempted to lift it over the goalkeeper, the latter spread himself well to deny him.
A rare mental lapse in the England backline gifted an Argentine a shot, though as has been the case throughout this tournament, expert handling and positioning from Goldman ensured there was little to worry about.
Hakim then tested the Argentine with a long-range effort but as at the other end, the goalkeeper dealt aptly with it.
However, with just two minutes left of the 90, Argentina have levelled with a curling free-kick that evaded everyone before nestling into the far corner.
Disappointment on everyone with a red shirt on, GB have to hold on now for the last few minutes and regroup themselves for extra time.
GB are now living on their nerves. Twice in the space of a minute, Argentina have had a spare man over at the far post, but GB have just about survived.
The whistle goes, meaning Team GB have to regroup for a further 30 minutes of dramatic action.
Extra time is underway with GB having geed themselves up and looking to go again.
Fortunately, GB don't seem to have let themselves get too down about the late equaliser and Hakim, not for the first time tonight, came within inches of putting them back in front though his shot which beat the 'keeper also beat the far post.
With 99 minutes on the clock, Argentina have the ball in the back of the net again. Fortunately on this occassion, the ball curved out of play from the corner first, something not lost at first by the now voceferous Argentine support.
It's now GB's time to suffer an extra-time scare as a long ball pumped forward causes panic in the defence. Goldman though is to the rescue again as he comes out to take both ball and man.
Half time of extra time is blown, a chance for either side, and a very tense and dramatic 15 minuts await.
Second half of extra time is underway with GB hoping the introduction of Michael Warwick can give them another offensive threat.
With no notable action in terms of chances, GB are now giving it one final push with just two minutes left on the clock.
With seconds left, Alex Levack comes on with penalties now in mind and as the referee blows his whistle, the game will be decided on a penalty shoot-out...
PENALTIES:
Argentina: missed
Craig Ellis: missed
Argentina: scored
Michael Sacks: missed
Argentina: scored
Mitch Hahn: scored
Argentina: missed
Alex Levack: scored
Argentina: scored
Guy Morris: missed
Argentina win 3-2 on penalties
PHOTOGALLERY
Team GB:
Andy Goldman, Guy Helman, Craig Ellis, Guy Morris, David Souter (Michael Sacks 121), James Gershfield (Matt Stock 83), Sam Sloma (Daniel Stanton 75), Scot Shulton, Jonathan Kurrant (Michael Warwick 116), Mitch Hahn, Paul Hakim.
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Elsewhere, GB have won two golds in the Masters Squash this morning, though there was disappointment for the Masters 35+ futsal side.
David Lazarus was victorious in the Over 45 competition, while Jack Shtein triumphed in the Over 50's.
The 35+ Masters side weren't though able to pick up bronze after they lost to 6-4 to Argentina, and they found themselves 4-0 down with just eight minutes remaining.
There was also disappointment for the Open Netball team who lost 42-23 against Australia, meaning they go home with silver.
It was also defeat for the Rugby team late on Wednesday night as they lost 19-16 to Australia. HOW THE FINAL UNRAVELLED
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PRE-GAMES PHOTOGALLERIES:
GB SQUAD LEAVING HEATHROW AIRPORT
MEN'S OPEN FOOTBALL TEAM AT KOTEL
MACCABIAH GALA EVENING
MACCABIAH SQUAD AT YAD VASHEM
MACCABIAH SQUAD AT DEAD SEA
SIR BOBBY CHARLTON AT MACCABIAH
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DAY ONE PHOTOGALLERIES:
JUNIOR GIRLS - GB 4 FINLAND 1
JUNIOR BOYS - GB 0 BRAZIL 3
YOUTH FOOTBALL - GB 1 USA 1
OVER 45 FOOTBALL - GB 3 BRAZIL O
OPEN FEMALE FOOTBALL - GB 0 AUSTRALIA 1
OPEN FUTSAL 35+ - GB 2 MEXICO 1
GB ROWERS
OPEN RUGBY - GB 16 AUSTRALIA 6
MACCABIAH GALA
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DAY TWO PHOTOGALLERIES:
OPENING CEREMONY PHOTOGALERY
SIR BOBBY CHARLTON MEETS JUNIOR BOYS FOOTBALL TEAM
TEN PIN BOWLING
JUNIOR FUTSAL - GB 2 ITALY 1
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DAY THREE PHOTOGALLERIES:
GYMNASTICS
BOYS & GIRLS TENNIS
LAWN BOWLS
TRACK & FIELD DAY ONE
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DAY FOUR PHOTOGALLERIES:
CYCLISTS WIN SILVER MEDALS
JUNIOR NETBALL - GB 15 AUSTRALIA 50
OPEN NETBALL - GB 23 AUSTRALIA 43
TRACK & FIELD DAY TWO
JUNIOR BOY'S BASKETBALL
JUNIOR GIRLS BASKETBALL
OPEN FUTSAL
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DAY FIVE PHOTOGALLERIES:
GB RUGBY TEAM AT KOTEL
JUNIOR CRICKET
BEACH VOLLEYBALL
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DAY SIX PHOTOGALLERIES:
OPEN FOOTBALL - GB VS BRAZIL
OPEN TENNIS
JUNIOR GOLF
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DAY SEVEN PHOTOGALLERIES:
ROWERS WITH THEIR MEDALS
GB SWIMMERS
OPEN CRICKET
YOUTH FOOTBALL
JUNIOR JUDO
OPEN FOOTBALL 14 FINAL
OPEN RUGBY
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DAY EIGHT PHOTOGALLERIES:
OPEN FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL
JUNIOR CRICKET FINAL
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DAY NINE PHOTOGALLERIES:
TABLE TENNIS
SQUASH
JUNIOR FUTSAL 3/4 PLACE PLAY-OFF
OPEN FEMALE FOOTBALL 3/4 PLACE PLAY-OFF
OVER 45 FOOTBALL
JUNIOR NETBALL FINAL
HALF MARATHON
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DAY TEN PHOTOGALLERIES:
MEN'S OPEN FOOTBALL FINAL
RUGBY OPEN FINAL
MEN'S 35+ BRONZE PLAY-OFF
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DAY ELEVEN PHOTOGALLERIES:
CLOSING CEREMONY
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JEWISH NEWS EDITOR ZEDDY LAWRENCE'S MACCABIAH BLOG
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