Israel destroy Luxembourg

Israel 7 Luxembourg 0

Elyaniv Barda struck a first-half hat-trick as Israel responded to Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Latvia by recording an emphatic victory over Luxembourg in World Cup qualifying Group Two.

The Genk forward opened the scoring in the ninth minute and, after Aviram Baruchyan had doubled the hosts’ advantage six minutes later, added two more before the interval to put Israel firmly in command.

Omer Golan notched just before the hour mark to make it 5-0 and then a Ben Sahar brace sealed the rout for Israel, who remain fourth in the pool.

Despite having only a slim chance of qualifying for South Africa next year, 7,000 fans turned up at the Ramat Gan Stadium.

And they had to wait less than 10 minutes before the deadlock was broken by Barda with a delicate chip over Luxembourg goalkeeper Marc Oberweis.

Baruchyan’s free-kick six minutes later, via a deflection off the defensive wall, made it 2-0 and a neat finish from Barda in the 21st minute stretched their advantage further.

Barda completed his treble two minutes before half-time to take his tally to four goals in the qualifying campaign.

He then turned provider in what was his final contribution of the night to set up Golan for Israel’s fifth in the 59th minute.

Barda’s replacement Ben Sahar made it 6-0 in the 64th minute and the Espanyol frontman put the icing on the cake for the Israelis with his second and their seventh of a comfortable night seven minutes from time.