A depleted Maccabi GB Futsal team swept a side National League side Kickers, at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in what team manager Johnny Cohen described as a "satisfactory conclusion" to the second phase of the team's preparations for the European Maccabi Games.

Maccabi GB beat the National League side London United in their first competitive futsal match.
With five months to go before the European Maccabi Games in Vienna, MGB came from two goals down to win 6-5 in Crystal Palace.

Strikes from Sam Arghebant, Jonathan Green and Daniel Sugarman they found themselves 3-2 up before the South London based opposition - comprising mainly of Brazilian ex-pats - levelled matters just before the interval.

Jonny Cohen, manager of the Maccabi GB Open futsal squad, is targeting a medal after naming the squad for next year’s European Maccabi Games in Vienna.

Under Cohen, MGB have competed a the two Maccabi European Futsal Trophies in Madrid and Torremolinos as well as last year’s Maccabiah Games in Israel. He believes that the nine-man squad has the best possible chance of bringing home silverware.

Manager Ben Winston believes that Maccabi GB are one of a handful of teams capable of winning gold at next year's European Maccabi Games in Vienna.

Winston, 29, this week named an 18-man squad including 14 players from South Midlands League side London Lions. The group includes nine members of last year's GB squad who took silver at the Maccabiah.

Winston said: "It will be a tough competition in Vienna but we think this is definitely a squad capable of challenging for medals.