Lionesses raised profile of GB football
FOOTBALL Arthur Duke saluted his players after Team Maccabi GB won the European gold in the Open Women’s Football competition following a nail-biting 3-2 win over Germany.
MGB had beaten Germany 2-1 in their opening match in Budapest, but this was followed by heavy defeats against eventual winners the USA (13-0) and Hungary (5-0). However, as a guest playing nation from outside of Europe, the USA were handed the international gold and Hungary could not win the event as they fielded an entirely non-Jewish team in a competition where a minimum of four entrants were needed.
This left MGB to play Germany in the “European final”, and goals from Rachel Myers (2) and Romilly King secured a 3-2 win. MGB stormed into a 2-0 lead before Germany pulled one back on the stroke of half-time. GB restored their two-goal advantage early in the second half, but a second goal for Germany set up a grandstand finish. But MGB held on, sparking scenes of celebrations.
MGB manager Arthur Duke said: “The competition encapsulated the spirit of the EMG that both GB and Germany were offered to play in the gold medal match and we both initially declined. But the competition rules meant that because USA are not a European team, we were told there would be two gold medals – overall competition winners and European winners.
“I believe it’s the first time a GB women’s team has won a football gold medal, so it’s a proud moment for myself, assistantplayer-manager Hollie Geey and coach Gabriel John. They have both been fantastic in what has been a real team effort all round.”
Duke admitted to shredded nerves in the last 10 minutes as Germany pressed for an equaliser. “It was backs-to-the-wall stuff but we did it. It was amazing and made all the hard work and effort worth it as there were times when it appeared we would struggle to get a squad together. “Everyone was exhausted after playing four matches in five days but we celebrated with a couple of drinks and some karaoke. The girls are all over the moon as we’ve raised the profile of MGB Jewish women’s football.”