Golan goal denies Greece in Israel
Saturday 28 March 2009
e-mail
Print
Digg
Save
Photos/Wallpapers »
Omer Golan's 55th-minute equaliser earned Israel a 1-1 draw at Ramat Gan Stadium to keep them a point behind the FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 2 leaders ahead of their meeting in Heraklion on Wednesday.
Unbeaten run
Greece still head the section alongside Switzerland on ten points but they looked set to pull clear of their rivals when Theofanis Gekas opened the scoring close to half-time. The hosts had not lost any of their previous 18 World Cup qualifiers, however, and they successfully extended that run eight years to the day since suffering a 2-1 defeat in Austria to preserve their dreams of reaching South Africa next summer.
Goals exchanged
On target in Greece's last two outings, Gekas continued his fine run of form for the national team after collecting Traianos Dellas's knock-down from a lofted Georgios Karagounis free-kick and beating Dudu Aouate from close range. That silenced the near-38,000 home fans, but they were singing again soon after the restart, when danger man Ben Sahar released Yossi Benayoun into the area with the most nonchalant of passes. The Liverpool FC winger's accurate square ball was then turned in at the near post by Golan.
Benayoun injury
Substitute Barak Itzhaki nearly gave Israel the lead after that, but the game ended on a sour note for Dror Kashtan's men, with Benayoun forced to leave the pitch on a stretcher with a strained calf muscle, making him doubtful for Wednesday's encounter. In fact, it was Greece who went closest to finding a late winner as Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Christos Patsatzoglou and Charisteas all threatened Aouate's goal.
©uefa.com 1998-2009. All rights reserved.
