SA vs BRAZIL (5th - 8th place Game)

On the 19th July, Bafana Bafana played against Brazil for places 5 -8 in the Maccabi Masters Football Division. The Winner of this match would play the winner of the USA vs CANADA match for 5th 7 6th place and the looser would play the looser of the USA vs CANADA match for 7th & 8th place.

Team Lineup: (4-4-2)

Dan Fine (GK), Michael Selikow, Colin Gewer, David Valentini, Allan Nossel, Izzy Goldfein, Ryan Jankelowitz, Robert Sulcas, Gary Katzman, Yaron Frankental, Robin Segal.

1st half kicked off, with Bafana having much of the possesion and passing the ball around nicely. Bafana were dominating the play which paid off in the 20th min when Ryan "one touch" Jankelowitz back heeled the ball to Ilan Hermann who put in a superb through ball for Dan Fine who ran onto the ball, cut inside and whipped in a low cross which was driven into the 6yard box where Lawrence " " Sacke pounced on the ball slotting it home, the keeper had as much chance as a balloon in a room filled with kittens............................... Bafana Bafana up 1 - 0.

However, Bafana struggled to hold onto the lead and in the 28th min, Brazil equalised with a near post header from thier no: 9 Striker, who was about 7 foot, we had no chance.........

Halftime score: 1 -1

2nd half began pretty much as the 1st half ended with Bafana dictating play, but this was short lived as the Brazilians started to comeback and piled on the pressure in the last few mins of the 2nd half. Final score after full time 1- 1. Extra time beckoned. (2 halves of 10 mins each with no break in between)

The lads had a quick water break with a little pep talk from the special one Warren Lewis and headed back onto the pitch, psyched and ready to put one over the Brazilians and claim our first win of the tournament. This however would not be the case and just 3 mins into the 1st half of extra time Brazil scored thier 2nd goal, smashing any hope of a win for Bafana. Final score 2 - 1 in favour of the Brazilians.

The lads were guttered, as they put thier heart & soul into the game and gave it thier all. Our next and final game would be up against Canada on Tuesday 21 July at 9am at Neve Sha'anan.