Fun in The Sun! MUSA to play in Miami Tournament: Jan '10

For those of you interested in playing a little futbol in the warm sun of Miami this January, our own Joel ZUCKERMAN is assembling an Over-30 team to participate in the Miami South Beach Classic tournament on 1/22-23.

Joel can be reached via e-mail at zuckerman.joel@gmail.com.

Here are the key details to consider before you opt in as a player:

• 6v6 format
• Five games guaranteed over two days
• 30 minutes per game
• Complimentary souvenir jerseys and bus transportation to the fields
• Travel to/from Miami is your own responsibility
• Food and beverages are also your responsibility
• Trophies for the winners and medals for the runners-up

Tournament Hotel for Weekend
You must book a room at either the South Beach Hotel or the Crest Hotel Suites. Unless you live in south Florida or have a friend that you can stay with, these are the only two hotels that the tournament organizers will allow you to use for the 2-day tourney.

Hotel and Tournament Packages

• All tournament registration referee fees
• Soccer tournament on excellent Bermuda grass fields

Taxes Included
3 days / 2 nights pricing:
Book before 12/7/2009 11:59:00 PM to avail of the early bird prices

Crest Hotel Suites 4 people per room price $309.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 3 people per room price $349.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 2 people per room price $379.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 1 people per room price $579.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 4 people per room price $309.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 3 people per room price $349.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 2 people per room price $379.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 1 people per room price $549.00 (Per Person)

Friends and Family:

Crest Hotel Suites 4 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 3 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 2 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 1 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 4 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 3 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 2 family/friend per room $249.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 1 family/friend per room $219.00 (Per Non-Player)

4 days / 3 nights pricing:

Book before 12/7/2009 11:59:00 PM to avail of the early bird prices

Crest Hotel Suites 4 people per room price $359.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 3 people per room price $399.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 2 people per room price $429.00 (Per Person)
Crest Hotel Suites 1 people per room price $629.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 4 people per room price $359.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 3 people per room price $399.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 2 people per room price $429.00 (Per Person)
South Beach Hotel 1 people per room price $599.00 (Per Person)

Friends And Family:

Crest Hotel Suites 4 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 3 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 2 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
Crest Hotel Suites 1 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 4 family/friend per room $309.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 3 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 2 family/friend per room $319.00 (Per Non-Player)
South Beach Hotel 1 family/friend per room $289.00 (Per Non-Player)

Boardwalk Interviews After Match Day Four

Team USA photographer/videographer Shay BANNICK caught up with select members of the team on the boardwalk of the beach area near the ever-popular NIRVANA restaurant following the team's 2-1 victory over CANADA on July 19th.

Food at the Dan Carmel...Feast or Fouled?

In lieu of the large number of athletes and coaches who experienced stomach problems after eating at the Dan Carmel Hotel during Team USA's stay in Haifa, I figured I would post some video of the buffet tables that were omni-present throughout our meals in Le Rondo and the main restaurant area.



The known list of Team USA members affected by the local cuisine include, but are not limited to, the following individuals:

Greg ABRAMS
Steve ALPER
David BANNICK
Brian GREENE
Elliot KOOLIK
Blair LACHMAN
David LINN
Drew MISHER
Nir SVERI
Mike ROCKOWER & family
Josh WARMUND

Despite the 'rough and tough' moments, Team USA thoroughly enjoyed its time at the Dan Carmel Hotel and would like to thank everyone on the hotel staff for making our stay worthwhile.

Reflections on Jerusalem with Nir SVERI

July 17, 2009

At the break of dawn on Friday, July 17th, members of the Maccabi USA Men's Master's Team embarked on a journey to the holy city of Jerusalem for a tour of Israel's most-visited city.

Team member Nir SVERI organized the excursion with the help of friends and family in Tel Aviv, and deserves kudos as well as thanks for his outstanding coordination of a wonderful trip. Thanks, Nir!

Samba Kings End U.S. Run For 5th Place

Brazil ended the Maccabi U.S. Men Master's quest for 5th place in the 18th Maccabiah with a gritty 4-3 victory at the Neve Shanaan Complex in Haifa on Tuesday, July 21st.

The Samba Kings opened the scoring in the 6th minute when their target striker, #9, found the tinyest of space between the near post and his defender to re-direct a flank service into the right corner past a stunned Michael ROCKOWER. The U.S. found itself down in the first half of the tournament for the second time and came to life through the feet of midfielder Nir SVERI who rifled a 18-yard shot on goal that slipped under the arms of Brazil's 'keeper in the 13th minute. Steve ALPER was credited with an assist on the goal as he laid the ball back to the oncoming New Yorker for his first goal of the competition.

As if one goal wasn't enough, the Brazilians fought back again for the game's third goal as their #11 forward kicked the ball over top of the U.S. defenders and beyond the reach of Rockower for a 2-1 lead. This came against the run of play and changed the dynamic of the first 18 minutes before the referee whistled for a water break.



Head Coach Al ALBERT was not pleased with his team's lackluster performance and laid into his team with the intent of ensuring that each player took personal reponsibility for his position on the pitch. This worked for the remaining 17 minutes of the first half as the U.S. transitioned from its back third to a midfield comprised of Greg ABRAMS, Steve ALPER, Brian GREENE, Elliot KOOLIK, Matt MILLER, Nir SVERI and Morry STEINBACH. With Gil OREN and Irad YOUNG operating as the team's two front runners, the U.S. evened the match in the 31st minute when Young lobbed the ball over the Brazilian 'keeper from deep inside the Samba Kings' penalty area. It was Young's third goal of the tournament and a momentum changer - so much so that the faces of the Brazilian Over-35's turned to anger and malcontent.

At halftime, Albert insisted that the team dig deep for energy and mental sharpness, particularly on high punts from the 'keeper and driven balls into the heart of the U.S. defense. David BANNICK entered the match in the 36th minute and was called into action on several occasions - all of which he bested the Brazilian strike force of numbers 9, 11, 14 until disaster struck in the 53rd minute.



Brazil won a hotly-contested free kick 23 yards from goal when their #10 playmaker was fouled by two American defenders that converged on the dancing midfielder and were whistled for a foul on the sequence. It was here that the Brazilians found the lower, left-hand corner of the U.S. goal as the #10 bent a curling shot around the 5-man American wall for a 3-2 lead.

Within four minutes of this foul, the U.S. mounted several scoring chances on goal through combination play between Oren, Steinbach, Sveri, Young and right back David LINN who entered the match in the 9th minute after fellow defender Blair LACHMAN left the match with a strained groin. Linn's play on the right flank enabled Steve Alper and Greg Abrams to get forward into the attack and serve balls across the front of the Brazilian goal that caused problems for the immobile Brazilian back four.

Steinbach was fouled repeatedly as he dribbled through the Brazilian middle third and finally won a free kick in the 57th minute when the referee issued a caution to one of the Brazilian defenders for excessive fouling on the Chicagoan's legs. Team captain Irad YOUNG stepped up and delivered a bending, 28-yard ball into the penalty box that eluded several Brazilian defenders before Steinbach got his foot on the ball and re-dericted it into the net for an important third U.S. goal.



The remaining 13 minutes of the match saw both teams employ a more direct style of football much to the chagrin of both keepers who were kept active with balls coming into the box repeatedly. This style paid off for the Samba Kings when they drove a ball to the top of the 18-yard box that U.S. players Bannick and Linn both went up for against one Brazilian attacker. This proved to be fatal as the Brazilian forward jumped up and headed the ball over an onrushing Bannick and into the American goal for the game-winning marker.

The U.S. found itself down but not out and continued to look for Oren and Young who were checking deep from positions near or at the Brazilian penalty box. Time and time again, the U.S. had scoring chances that the Brazilians cleared or saved. Time wasting did become an issue that the Israeli referee refused to manage and frustrations grew thicker as the game reached its final climax in the 70th minute.



"It's difficult to lose like we did today", said Young after the match. "I thought we showed great character coming back from a 2-0 deficit, but it proved to be too little when the game was on the line. I am proud of how our team played and salute our boys for their efforts throughout the match."

FINAL MEDAL STANDINGS
MEN'S OVER-35 MASTER'S SOCCER
18TH MACCABIAH
HAIFA, ISRAEL

GOLD: Argentina
SILVER: Israel
BRONZE: Great Britain
4th Place: Mexico
5th Place: Brazil
6th Place: USA
7th Place: Canada
8th Place: South Africa

MATCH REPORT

USA VS. BRAZIL
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009
NEVE SHANAAN COMPLEX
HAIFA, ISRAEL

USA Starting Lineup (4-4-2): Rockower (Bannick,36'), Zuckerman, Lachman (Linn, 9'), Homer, Rosenstein, Sveri, Steinbach, Miller (Greene, 18'), Young, Alper (Abrams, 18'/Koolik 32'), Oren

Subs not used: Misher-15.

STATS
USA BRA
Goals 3 4
Shots 9 8
Saves 4 5
Fouls 11 19
Corners 4 1
Yellow Cards 0 2
Red Cards 0 0

BARCLAYS Man of the Match: Irad YOUNG.