Israel keep heat on Ireland with Cyprus win

ISRAEL last night joined Ireland and France at the top of World Cup qualifying group four. All are on eight points following the Israeli’s 2-1 away victory over Cyprus on a wet night on the Mediterranean island.

“I am pinching myself,” said Israel coach Avraham Grant. “I cannot believe we have eight points. Nobody gave us much of a chance but we proved we have the determination and the ability to keep up with the teams in the group.”

A late Avi Nimni goal sealed a first win for Israel in Cyprus. The previous group four match in Tel Aviv between the two also ended in a 2-1 win for the Israelis in September.

Israel had keeper Nir Davidovich to thank after he made a great save in the 75th minute to keep out a Michael Constantinou penalty given after Nimni fouled Marios Ilia.

The match began well for the visitors and the evenly-contested first half saw Israel take the lead in the 16th minute through Adoram Keisi. Yiannakis Okkas equalised for Cyprus in the 45th minute.

Ireland, France and Israel all have eight points from four matches, followed by Switzerland on five points from three while Cyprus have one point from five games and the Faroe Islands one from four. Despondency set in with the Cypriots.

“I don’t know what happened. We did everything needed to win but we didn’t have the luck. Or perhaps it was psychological. I just don’t know,” said coach Momcilo Vukotic.

Israel took the lead in the 16th minute when Keisi was on hand to pounce on the rebound of a Nimni free kick which Cyprus keeper Nikos Panagiotou failed to collect.

Okkas put the home team on level terms in the final minute of the half when he was on hand to blast the ball into the roof of the net from close range after a mix-up in the Israeli defence.

A ragged second half played in pouring rain came to life in the 76th minute when Davidovich brilliantly saved Constantinou’s penalty by stretching fully to his right.

Cyprus keeper Panagiotou also had his moment when he rose high to palm a shot by Israel’s Yossi Benayoun over the bar but the killer blow came when Benayoun wove his way into the area and crossed for Nimni to seal the result.

CYPRUS: Panagiotou, Kaiafas, Kakoyiannis, Okkarides, Makrides, Okkas (Yiasoumi 55), Charalambides (Nicolau 85), Konstantinou, Charalambous, Stavros Georgiou (Goumenos 70), Elia.

ISRAEL: Davidovitch, Benado, Ben Haim, Keisi, Balili (Golan 53), Nimni, Badir, Benayoun, Afek (Revivo 79), Katan, Saban.

Referee: Sten Kaldma (Estonia).