Rather than me write about this game, here is the Jerusalem Post’s report, which I would concur with!
Maccbiah Soccer: British women keep their cool to defeat fiery Brazil in Haifa
The British women's soccer team defeated Brazil 1-0 in a must win game on Wednesday that kept it in the running for a medal winning position. The game was hotly contested with two of Brazil's players sent off at the Ketzef Stadium in Haifa.
The atmosphere was set within three minutes as a Brazilian defender slid in for a bone crunching challenge, receiving a yellow card. Brazil had the majority of the chances in the first half but failed to break a solid British defense, marshalled by centre half, Ellie Bard.
The first Brazilian player was sent off before half time for refusing to show her shirt number to the referee following a booking. However, the British team could not make this advantage count and failed to create any goal scoring opportunities.
The stalemate continued into the second half until an inspired substitution brought life into the British game.
Striker Talia Ben-Harosh immediately began troubling the Brazilian defence, being denied a number of chances only by the linesman's flag.
In the 75th minute, Chelsea Berlin, Britain's imposing centre forward broke the deadlock slotting home the winner in a goalmouth scrap following a corner.
Tensions rose in the latter stages of the game and a second sending off soon followed with another Brazilian receiving a red card for intentionally stamping on her opponents foot.
The Brazilian girls seemed to have had some lessons at drama school as their diving efforts were continually rewarded.
British captain, Danielle Bassin, commented that "Brazil could have won Oscars today, but at the end of the day we won and that's what matters."
The referee, Lilach Acolim, told The Jerusalem Post that she had been surprised at the intensity of the game. "It was very tough, the girls didn't come to play they came to kill each other, but there was more aggression from Brazil."
ENDS
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I came on for the last quarter. During that time, I had a hand in my face, a knee banged into the side of my leg and a failed attempt at kicking me when the ref’s back was turned! Salsa football it was not! Every player on our team has a similar story to tell. I am guessing that the Brazilians were stung by the previous drubbings they have had in the competition and had heard that we are a strong, physical team and took the brutality option. But we got the win we needed to keep our medal hopes alive.
After the game, about half of us headed down to a Maccabi clubbing night at Haoman 17 in Jaffa. Most of the American squad were there too and we had a bit of an Brit/Yankee sing off going on on the bus. They didn’t know Help! but did know Wonderwall, which was quite impressive! The club itself was the usual Israeli fare of banging techno and hip hop with a random play of Smells Like Teen Spirit thrown in!
Now we have a day off before we start to prepare for our all or nothing game against Israel on Sunday.
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