We got home after midnight from the Opening Ceremonies and met for breakfast at 8:00am for an 11:00am kick off against Israel. I was concerned about how tired we would be from last night but felt a bit better when I was told the Israeli team was also at Opening Ceremonies as well. Still, I was ready for an ugly match on both sides.
As expected the Israelis came right at us playing a pretty direct style and were able to manage a goal. It came off of a ball that was being clearing out of the penalty box and bounced off of the back of an Israeli player and into the goal. As it turned out that made us focus and raise the level of intensity of our play. We picked up the tempo and created several chances before getting the equalizer before halftime.
As the girls came off the field their comments were that they didn't feel tired or pressured at all and were quite confident. In the second half we put on a display of soccer that had even the referees and security personnel remarking that they had never seen young women play at that level before.
We exploded for 3 goals, with the Israelis only managing to cross midfield a few times.
After the game when the Israeli coach to shake me hand, he kept saying over and over "beautiful" "beautiful". Yes it was!
We wore our Ethan Zohn, Grassroots Soccer shirts during pre-game warm-up as a tribute to Maccabi Soccer Alumnus Ethan Zohn who we selected at honorary Captain for Maccabi USA Soccer.
Tonight we'll relax and enjoy a pool party here (not too late) and then prepare for Great Britain tomorrow at 4:00 pm.
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