Swiss go tops but coach Kobi knows the score after messy draw

Switzerland 1 Israel 1

Switzerland and Israel did just about enough to keep their qualifying chances alive on Saturday, after scrapping their way through a messy 1-1 draw.

Swiss coach Kobi Kuhn said: "As we expected it was a very tough match against a very strong Israeli team. But that isn't to say that we couldn't have won this game."

As the home side, Switzerland had been particularly keen to end the tense stand-off in a group that has now seen all nine of the direct meetings between the four top sides finish in draws.

The Swiss looked well on course to end the deadlock when they were gifted an early lead thanks to a fifth minute mistake by Israel's Ariel Banado.

Attempting to clear a well-weighted cross from international newcomer Tranquillo Barnetta, the experienced Maccabi Haifa defender only succeeded in deflecting the ball onto his own goalpost.

Switzerland's top striker Alex Frei took full advantage leaping over an outstretched Nir Davidovich in the Israeli goal-mouth before slamming the ball over the line.

Frei's 21st goal from 37 international starts was cancelled out 15 minutes later when Adoram Keisi rose unchallenged to head an Idan Tal free kick in off Pascal Zuberbuehler's right post.

Looking to qualify for the World Cup finals for the first time since their 1970 debut, Israel were forced to rely on increasingly hefty defending after the restart, picking up three yellow cards in rapid succession.

The home side kept up the pressure, another Frei effort headed onto his own crossbar by Tal Ben Haim, while substitute striker Mauro Lustrinelli could not quite connect with a late pass into the box.

The point gained was enough to send Switzerland top with three matches remaining but with two of those matches coming against Ireland and France, Kuhn knew his men had missed a big opportunity.

"It will be difficult as we now need six points from our last three games," he reflected. "Israel are also still in with a chance now."

That point was not lost on the Israelis, who have a much easier run-in than their opponents.

Their two final matches are against the Faroe Islands but they have also played one game more than Switzerland, France and Ireland.

"I still believe it's possible for us to at least get second place," Israel and West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun insisted. "Of course we have to beat the Faroes first and then see what happens in the other games but at least everything is still possible."

SWITZERLAND: Zuberbuhler, Degen, Magnin (Spycher 89), Senderos, Muller, Barnetta, Vogel, Yakin (Cabanas 65), Frei, Gygax, Vonlanthen (Lustrinelli 82).

ISRAEL: Davidovitch, Benado, Saban, Harazi, Benayoun (Soan 90), Keisi, Nimni (Zandberg 71), Tal, Katan (Golan 65), Ben Haim, Badir.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Torino).