Israel shocks Italy; Italy –5, Israel –4
Italian player Sandro Tonali’s breakthrough against Israel.
Debrecen (Hungary) ∙ Sandro Tonali’s injury-time goal saved Italy. Italy, which fought a close battle with Israel in the World Cup qualifiers, finally won the match 5-4. Italy, whose World Cup qualification was in jeopardy after losing 3-0 to Norway last June, had been expected to easily win against Israel. However, the Israeli team shocked Italy on a neutral stage in Hungary.
Israel managed to take the lead twice in the game. 2 own goals and mistakes by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made the match so complicated for Italy. Moise Kean scored 2 goals for Italy. Israel opened its account in the 16th minute with an own goal conceded by Italian player Locatelli. Italy equalized in the 40th minute through Moise Kean, but within 2 minutes, Israel was ahead again through Dor Peretz. This time too, Moise Kean equalized for Italy within two minutes. In the 58th minute, Matteo Politano gave Italy the lead. In the 81st minute, Giacomo Raspadori’s goal increased Italy’s lead (4–2). However, Alessandro Bastoni’s own goal in the 81st minute again disrupted Italy’s rhythm (4–3).
Immediately after, Dor Peretz’s 2nd goal in the 89th minute. Israel tied with Italy (4–4). It was a goal that shocked the Italian players who had played with confidence until then. With the game tied, Italy’s World Cup hopes were in danger of being crowned champions again when Sandro Tonali, a player for English club Newcastle, scored Italy’s winning goal in the first minute of injury time. With this, Italy surpassed Israel to move into second place in Group I. Norway, which has won all four of its four matches, is at the top of the group.
