Great looking team! Phoenix/Tucson, Maccabi 2011, Israel
Josh, Lorenzo, and JZ with not-quite-lifesized Yossi Benayoun,
the greatest Israeli player in history. Yossi scored highlight-reel
goals for Liverpool before being transfered to Chelsea last year.
To watch 33-sec video of JZ's great PK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_Rlyqh-NY8
Noah's sprained ankle was a tremendous babe-magnet.
Here Israeli dancer Tzilil offers rest and relaxation.
Two celebrated singers: Adamo from the party band Twice Baked
(book us for your wedding bar mitzvah, confirmation, bris,
annulment, funeral, etc.) and Brett Loewenstern from
American Idol...
Day 2: Phoenix/Tucson boys put together two complete games! 1st played Denver/Detroit/Houston, the best American team in the tournament. Starters all 17 year-olds, including two boys that play for Real Colorado Academy, the development squad for the MLS professional team. (The Israeli team is by far the best, but they have 18 and 19 year-old professionals, and our rules say 17 is the upper limit! Big scandal, btw.)
Denver/Detroit was really strong, but we held them without a goal for 29 minutes. Went into half down 0-1 after Aaron S made a half-dozen terrific saves, and then lightning struck about 5 minutes into the 2nd half: Shawn's thow-in was a laser, and Gino hit a stunning volley into the net to tie the game 1-1. We held off the onslaught for another 8 minutes before Denver scored to win it 2-1, but our boys fought hard till the final whistle. Case in point: Noah Z stretched his foot out to block yet another thumped shot, and the impact sprained his ankle! We learned back at the "hub" where we hang out between games that Israeli medics at SPORTING EVENTS do NOT have CRUTCHES! He's walking a bit this evening, however, so he'll still get to enjoy the rest of the Maccabi Games and tour, though he won't be able to play any more soccer.
This afternoon, played a terrific game against a Baltimore squad with the best goalie we've seen in the tournament. The Belassens combined for a great goal in the 1st half: Gino hitting a diagonal ball to Lorenzo pushing up along the right wing, Lorenzo crossing it back into Gino in the center, and Gino crushing the ball into the net.
In the 2nd half, we had about 6 breakaway attempts, but their keeper stopped us every time. In the meantime, B'more tied the score 1-1 with a quick counter-attack. Facing a disappointing draw in our final qualifying round game, we scored the decisive goal with about 8 minutes to play: Shawn fired in a low, scorching cross to the near post, where Jacob Z volleyed the ball hard and low into the corner of the net, past the diving keeper. A great combination for a well-deserved win!
We got the 4th seed in the blue division and will play the 5th seeded "Continental Team" in the quarterfinals tomorrow morning. We haven't seen them play, but a coach told me that they have a number of strong players culled from cities that only sent 1 or 2 kids to the Games. The winner plays in the afternoon in the semifinals and is guaranteed to play in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Peace out....Adamo
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