Israeli Sports Daily: U-21's Football: Portugal edge past Israel in 7 goal thriller


Munas Dabbur celebrates after opening the scoring for Israel (ifa)

Israel's qualification hopes for Euro 2015 were slashed last night as they were defeated by Portugal, 4-3, in front of about 6,000 spectators at the Hamoshava Stadium in Petach Tikva.
Israel took the lead (1-0) 9 minutes in, through a Munas Dabbur strike, but his goal was cancelled out just 7 minutes later when Ivan Cavaleiro received an aerial through ball from Luis Gustavo and slotted the ball between goalie, Barak Levi's legs.
Dia Saba on his 21st birthday returned the lead to Israel in the 55th minute (2-1) but goals from Ricardo and Bernando Silva in the 59th and 64th minute respectively handed the control back to Portugal (2-3). In the 74th minute Taleb Tawatha got on the end of an Eli Dasa cross to equalize for the Blue and White (3-3), But 4 minutes from time, a deflected Bernardo SIlva shot (4-3) handed the win to the Portuguese.
"I'm torn apart", said Israel's manager Michael Nees after the game, "On one side I am absolutely satisfied with the technical level at which we played, the pace with which we attacked and overall we played good football. On the other side we lost the game, so we only earn respect but no points".

Group 8