Italy wins one of the craziest matches in its recent history. In Debrecen, against Israel, who played in black armbands following the attack in Jerusalem , the match ends 4-5. The Azzurri trail twice, then turn the score around to 2-4, conceding two goals in two minutes between the 87th and 89th minutes. But early in stoppage time, Tonali gives Gattuso's team a second-place finish in the World Cup qualifying group.
Italy's start was terrible. Israel did more or less what they wanted in the first 15 minutes, almost scoring from a corner kick early on, but the referee (rightly) flagged an attacking foul by Lemkin (who left the pitch injured in the 9th minute) on Donnarumma, who had put the ball in himself. The 1-0 lead came in the 16th minute, thanks to a clumsy sliding tackle by Locatelli, who, following a Biton cross from the right, slotted the ball into the net for an own goal .
In the 28th minute, Barella had a good chance—essentially his first—to equalize, following a pass from Tonali near the penalty spot, but the Cagliari midfielder fired poorly wide with his right foot. Three minutes later, Locatelli tried to bounce back but was unlucky, hitting the crossbar. A minute later, Kean's cross from the left went just wide .
Barella got the ball level with a great pass (40') for Retegui, who controlled it and passed it to Kean on the left. Kean then fired a well-placed right-footer that sent the ball wide of the opposing goalkeeper. This goal sent the ball to the break.
At the start of the second half, Italy seemed to be gaining the upper hand, but in the 52nd minute they fell behind again: former Venezia player Dor Peretz scored with a powerful left-footed shot from inside the box, assisted by Solomon. It took two minutes, however, for Kean to equalize, a powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the box that left Daniel Peretz with no chance , earning the Fiorentina striker his tenth international goal.
The game turned on its head in the 58th minute: a throw-in from the right into the box went to Retegui, who then found a great backheel to free Politano, and a perfect left-footed shot sealed Italy's first lead of the night . With fifteen minutes to go, Israel had a sensational double chance: first, a cross from Solomon almost caught Donnarumma off guard, who swatted it under the crossbar, then Locatelli saved with Baribo's shot beaten, and Donnarumma kept out the rebound.
In the 82nd minute, the match seemed over: Tonali found Frattesi from the left in the box, who then provided a great central pass for Raspadori, who scored the winning touch to make it 2-4, in a move that featured assists and conversions from two substitutes. But five minutes later, Israel came back within a goal, though Bastoni scored, squinting in a cross from the left for his second own goal of the evening. And in the 89th minute, Italy's defense fell asleep, allowing Dor Peretz to score a header from close range (following a rebounded free kick) to make it 4-4 .
The referee signals five minutes of injury time. And in the first, Italy scores again: a throw-in is taken by Tonali, who cuts inside and unleashes a not-so-pretty right-footed shot that slips between several legs and surprises Daniel Peretz . In the 97th minute, Revivo has the chance to make it 5-5; a deflection off Di Lorenzo proves providential, preventing his header. The ensuing corner is in vain, and Italy can celebrate a hard-fought but decisive victory: Israel are level (and have a game in hand), league leaders Norway are three points behind.