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Preston Goldfarb, left, poses with the American team he coached to the gold medal at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, Israel. (Submitted photo)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Preston Goldfarb didn't mention X's and O's when he faced the U.S. soccer team prior to its final at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Jerusalem, Israel.

The Birmingham-Southern College coach and Mountain Brook resident was in his third stint leading the American squad at the "Jewish Olympics." It's an event in which the USA had never placed better than second in men's soccer, even with players from the U.S. National Team.

"I want to talk about something that happens very, very rarely in one's lifetime, that is a chance to do something that no one else has done," Goldfarb recalled saying. "Like Neil Armstrong walking on the moon, things like that. There will always be someone after you but you'll always be the first to ever do this."

And Goldfarb became the first coach to lead them there. Despite playing with just 10 men for 60 minutes including two overtime periods in the final, the Americans held fast to a 2-2 tie with Argentina to force a shootout for the title.

They outpointed the Argentines 4-3 to in the shootout begin their celebration.

The Maccabiah Games are a world competition that comes every four years. It is said to be the third largest sporting event in the world behind the Olympics and the Pan American Games.

There were 78 countries and more than 10,000 athletes there. In the soccer field, 17 nations were represented, which was the single largest tournament there.

"It was really special," the veteran coach said. "I had a special group of guys who bought in. They never once asked me 'why' about anything and they never once questioned anything we did. They just believed.

"I told them if you believe and you work hard and you believe the impossible, you will accomplish the possible."

Success certainly didn't appear as likely after falling 1-0 to Uruguay in its opening game. "Postage-stamp sized fields," as Goldfarb called them, prompted a change in formation as the Americans had little margin for error.

Wins over Denmark (5-0), Mexico (3-2), Germany (7-0) and Canada (5-0) put Goldfarb and his team into the final.

"It was a great way to end my Maccabi career," Goldfarb said. "I won't do it again. I'm old and don't ant to go back."

The Panthers coach is entering his 31st year at BSC.

"I'll turn 66 in December and I told my athletic director and my president I would like to stay four more years and then retire," he said. "It depends on my health. I've got a great group coming in this year. I really like our freshmen coming in.

"They said they want me to be here when they graduate," Goldfarb said. "I said I'd do my best."