Two own goals and late drama: Italy beats Israel 5-4

The Italian players celebrated victory at the end of a furious match. IMAGO/ABACAPRESS

It was Gennaro Gattuso 's second match as coach of the Italian national team. The 2006 World Cup winners and his team had won their opening match 5-0 against Estonia . He made two changes to the team's position: Calafiori and Zaccagni were replaced by Mancini and Locatelli.

On the other side, Israel coach Ran Ben-Shimon , whose team was three points ahead of Italy in the group before the match, made a substitution after the 4-0 win against Moldova . Khalaili started in attack in place of Baribo.

The match began with a major upset in the Italian penalty area: In the 5th minute, Donnarumma missed the ball from a corner and put it into his own net. However, referee Vincic disallowed this own goal, calling it an offensive foul. Although this assessment could not be substantiated by a replay—Israel's Lemkin had merely stood there and had not actively impeded Donnarumma—the VAR nevertheless did not overturn the referee's decision. Italy were extremely lucky.

However, this only postponed the deficit, as the Italian defense repeatedly exposed large gaps. Dasa exploited one of these with a through ball into the path of Biton, whose cross provoked an own goal by Locatelli (16'). The Israeli lead was deserved at this point.

The Italians continued to strive, but initially lacked any dangerous shots. That changed in the 31st minute, when Locatelli, the own goal scorer, volleyed into the top left corner. Shortly after, Kean was denied by a defender in the six-yard box (32nd minute). After these two opportunities, however, Israel took control of the game. It looked more like 2-0 than 1-1, but then a long ball from Barella found Retegui, who laid it off well for Kean. The striker didn't hesitate on the edge of the box and converted with a low shot to make it 1-1 at half-time (40th minute).

The second half was to be a furious affair: First, Solomon single-handedly fooled the Italian defense in the 52nd minute. The Israeli number 10 dribbled past several opponents like slalom poles and then played to Dor Peretz, who fired a stunning shot into the top left corner to make it 2-1.

Israel's renewed lead, however, was short-lived, as just two minutes later, a long ball from the Italians slipped through to Kean. Kean didn't miss a chance to score a brace. He volleyed the ball into the net from the edge of the penalty area (54'). And just four minutes later, the game suddenly turned around: Retegui superbly laid off a throw-in with the outside of his foot for Politano, who fired a shot into the far corner with his left foot (58').

When Raspadori slotted home from Frattesi's pass from the six-yard box in the 81st minute to make it 4-2, the game seemed to be finally decided, but there was something special in the air that evening. There was a feeling that even a two-goal lead didn't yet spell victory for Italy. This feeling was confirmed when Revivo played the ball sharply across the goal from the left side of the penalty area. Bastoni was a bit clumsy and thus conceded Italy's second own goal of the evening (87th).

And Italy under Gattuso was no longer the bastion it once was that evening. This became apparent immediately after the equalizer: Israel had a short free kick in the half-court. Then a cross came to the right post, where Yehezkel headed it across for Dor Peretz, who nodded in to make it 4-4 (89'). Within just two minutes, the Israelis had fought back. The Italians weren't sure what was happening to them, but the same thing happened to Israel just two minutes later.

Tonali dribbled toward the left side of the penalty area and then, without any pressure from the opposition, curled a shot into the far corner. The shot lacked power, but was very precise, and therefore out of reach for Peretz in the Israeli goal (90+1). Suddenly, Italy was back in the lead, and the visitors held on to their 5-4 lead despite seven minutes of added time. Thus, the Italians had the better of this memorable game, and it was clear: Gattuso's Italy is anything but boring.

The new coach's third match is scheduled for October 11. Italy will host Estonia. Israel will play in Norway on the same day.