Tonali solves a crazy game: Italy overcomes Israel and keeps World Cup hopes alive
On the neutral in Debrecen, Hungary, Italy struggled not a little but managed to overcome Israel 5-4 at the end of a game full of twists and turns, thus keeping alive hopes of direct qualification to the World Cup with four matches still to be played between October and November. It is the second win in two matches in the Gattuso management, after last Friday’s win against’Estonia.
The match began with the Azzurri immediately in trouble: on 5′ a goal was canceled for Lemkin for a charge against Donnarumma in the Donnarumma small area, but on 16′ however, the Israeli lead arrived with an unfortunate own goal by Locatelli, who sent the ball into the net crossed low by Biton. The Juventino tried to make up for it himself on 31′ but his shot hit the crossbar.
Italy is not discouraged and in the 40th minute equalizes with Moise Kean: Retegui’s opening for the Fiorentina equaliser, who controls and shoots accurately, past Peretz. Another Peretz, Dor, however, puts Israel back ahead at 52′: the Maccabi Tel Aviv player’s right-footed shot, well taken by Solomon, gets past Donnarumma and makes it 2-1.
In the space of a few minutes, however, the Azzurri reared their heads and turned the score around: first it was Kean, on 54′, who scored his personal double with a beautiful conclusion from the limit, five minutes later it was instead Politano who closed a combination with Retegui by netting the 3-2. At’81’ the fourth Azzurri goal also arrived: it was scored by Raspadori, who had just entered in place of Kean, but the goal did not prove decisive at all.
Between the’87’ and the’89’ in fact, the cold shower arrives for Italy: first Bastoni, with an awkward attempt at a goal, is the author despite himself of an author’authoritative goal that reopens the game and then Dor Peretz, with a header on a corner action, signs the’incredible 4-4. Despite the double slap, Italy did not lose heart and at 91′ it was Sandro Tonali, with a mocking shot from distance, who put his signature on three crucial points not to lose the rainbow train, certified by the triple whistle after more than seven minutes of recovery.
So it ends 5-4 for Italy, which joins precisely Israel on 9 points having played, however, one game less than tonight’s opponents. Norway is three points away with four days to go: Italy will play on Oct. 11 in Estonia, on Oct. 14 with Israel, on Nov. 13 in Moldova, and on Nov. 16 at home against Norway.
