Tonali lifts Italy to comeback win over Israel in World Cup qualifying

DEBRECEN Hungary AP Sandro Tonali scored a stoppage-time winner as Italy won a chaotic nine-goal thriller against Israel - and dodged another big setback in its bid to qualify for the World Cup on Monday A - loss to Norway in June left Italy s qualification campaign in trouble More difficulties were in store when Israel twice took the lead in a encounter held in neutral Hungary Moise Kean exposed space among the Israeli defense to result each side of halftime leveling the total on both occasions Matteo Politano decisively gave Italy the lead in the th minute off a backheeled flick assist from Mateo Retegui and Giacomo Raspadori scored a fourth The challenge seemed over but Israel scored twice in two minutes to level the figure at - Dor Peretz scoring his second of the event Tonali then hit a speculative curling shot in the first minute of stoppage time which seemed unthreatening but ascertained its way through a crowd of players and into the net Italian errors were a major topic with two own goals and several glaring mistakes from new Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma The meeting was played less than a month after the Italian Soccer Coaches Association disclosed it wrote a formal letter calling for Israel to be suspended over the war in Gaza Chosen in the largely empty stadium seemed to whistle during the Israeli anthem Israel s players wore black armbands for the meeting after Palestinian attackers opened fire at a bus stop in Jerusalem on Monday Six people were killed and another were wounded in the attack according to Israeli bureaucrats Italy moves ahead of Israel for second place in Europe Group I Norway stayed top with four wins from its four games and faces last-placed Moldova on Tuesday Sweden in trouble Sweden s qualifying bid is already struggling after a - loss to Kosovo left the Swedes with one point from their first two games Kosovo scored both goals on lightning-fast counterattacks which began in its own penalty area Switzerland stayed top of Group B after beating Slovenia - with two of its goals coming from headers at corners Denmark and Scotland win Denmark and Scotland were level on four points at the top of Group C after the Danes beat Greece - and Scotland won against Belarus - Croatia cruises Croatia eased past Montenegro - to top Group L after Montenegro s Andrija Bulatovic was sent off for two bookings in the space of eight minutes before halftime Croatia was level on points with the second-placed Czech Republic but has played one less challenge The Faroe Islands beat Gibraltar - AP soccer https apnews com hub soccer Source