DEBRECEN, Hungary – A dramatic, last-gasp goal from Sandro Tonali secured a 5-4 victory for Italy against Israel in a pulsating World Cup qualifying match on Thursday.
The nine-goal thriller saw Israel take the lead twice, with Dor Peretz scoring twice, and remarkably level the score at 4-4 in the dying minutes before Tonali’s winner from the edge of the box. The result keeps Italy’s qualifying hopes alive in a fiercely contested group.
Israel opened the scoring with an early own goal from Manuel Locatelli, but moise Kean quickly responded for Italy. Dor Peretz then restored Israel’s advantage, onyl for Kean to equalize again. Further goals from Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori appeared to have sealed the win for the Italians, but late own goal by Alessandro Bastoni and Peretz’s second strike set up a nail-biting finish.
Elsewhere in Group L, Switzerland capitalized on Sweden’s 2-0 defeat to Kosovo in Pristina, with goals from Nico Elvedi, Breel Embolo, and Dan Ndoye securing a 3-0 win over Slovenia and putting them in a strong position in the group.
Denmark maintained their lead in Group C with a commanding 3-0 victory over Greece in Piraeus, thanks to goals from Mikkel Damsgaard, Andreas Christensen, and Rasmus Hojlund.
Scotland remain level on points with Denmark after a 2-0 win against Belarus in Zalaegerszeg.Che Adams opened the scoring before a Zakhar Volkov own goal sealed the victory for the Scots.
In Group L, Croatia continued their winning streak with a 4-0 triumph over Montenegro, who had Andrija Bulatovic sent off in the 42nd minute.
