The goal was scored during extra time in the second half of the game at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.
By Shiryn Ghermezian, The Algemeiner
Israel won 1-0 at a home game against Belarus on Tuesday night on matchday six of group I of the qualifiers for the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.
The goal was scored by Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder Gavriel “Gabi” Kanikovski in the 93rd minute, during extra time in the second half of the game at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv. The score was Kanikovski’s first for Israel’s national soccer team led by coach Alon Hazan, which is now in third place — right behind Romania in Group I. The Jewish state and Romania played to a 1-1 tie in Bucharest on Saturday evening.
Israel’s 1-0 victory on Tuesday gives it 11 points in the qualifiers, just one point behind Romania. Switzerland leads the group with 14 points after its 3-0 victory over last-place Andorra. Romania is two points behind in second place after beating Kosovo 2-0. The top two teams from the group of six will qualify for the Euros in Germany next year.
Israel will next play against Switzerland in the qualifiers on Oct. 12.
Over the summer, Israel’s Under-21 national soccer team qualified to compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. It will be Israel’s third overall participation in soccer at the Olympics and the first time in nearly 50 years that the country will play soccer at the international competition after tying for fifth place at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
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