Italy Surges Back In Crazy World Cup Qualifier Win”
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“Two Own Goals, Four Comebacks, One Winner In This Epic World Cup Qualifier”
It was a wild night in Hungary as Italy beat Israel 5-4 in their World Cup qualifier. The match was full of surprises, mistakes, and incredible comebacks. Every few minutes, the story changed, and the fans could hardly believe what they were watching.
Italy’s hopes stayed alive thanks to a late, stunning winner by Sandro Tonali in stoppage time. The game had seen all kinds of chaos: two own goals, multiple lead changes, and both sides refusing to give in. For Italy, this was not just a win on the scoreboard, but also a test of spirit and determination.
Italy fell behind early in the 16th minute when Manuel Locatelli accidentally headed the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross. It was a painful mistake, and the Israeli players celebrated as they grabbed the lead.
The Italians pushed forward, trying to find a way back. Five minutes before halftime, Moise Kean made sure they did. With a strong low shot, he levelled the score at 1-1. That goal gave Italy new energy and kept them in the fight.
But the second half started with more trouble. In the 52nd minute, Israel’s Dor Peretz struck a beautiful shot past goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Italy’s defence had opened up again, and suddenly Israel was back in front.
Italy’s answer came almost instantly. Just two minutes later, Kean scored again with a sharp half-volley. The young forward showed great focus and skill, proving himself as one of Italy’s brightest attacking players. The score was tied again, 2-2, and the game was racing at full speed.
Soon after, Italy finally took the lead. In the 58th minute, Matteo Politano slipped the ball into the net after quick teamwork in the box. For the first time that night, Italy was ahead, and their fans could breathe a little easier.
By the 81st minute, it looked like Italy had sealed the game. Giacomo Raspadori made it 4-2 with a clever finish. At that point, many thought the three points were safe. But football can change in seconds.
Just six minutes later, Italy’s defence broke down again. Alessandro Bastoni accidentally deflected a cross into his own net, cutting the lead to 4-3. The mistake gave Israel hope, and their players suddenly came alive with fresh energy.
Moments later, in the 89th minute, Dor Peretz scored his second goal of the night, smashing the ball home to tie the score 4-4. The Italian players dropped their heads in disbelief. From being two goals up with minutes left, they were now staring at a draw.
But Italy was not done. Deep into stoppage time, Sandro Tonali took his chance. From outside the box, he curled a shot through a crowd of players and into the bottom corner. The ball hit the net, and the Italians celebrated wildly. It was the winner they so badly needed, and the final score was 5-4.
Why This Match Matters:
- Italy stays alive in Group I. They now sit second with nine points, tied with Israel on points but ahead on goal difference — and with a game in hand. They remain three points behind the group leaders, Norway
- Path to the World Cup. Only the group winner goes directly to the 2026 World Cup. The runner-up must go through the playoffs. That makes every point—and every goal—critical
- New coach, new energy, same wounds. Under new coach Gattuso, Italy also beat Estonia 5-0 in their previous game. But the defence still looks shaky. Gattuso praised the team’s fighting spirit while stressing that defensive mistakes must be fixed
What To Remember:
- Moise Kean scored two key goals to keep Italy in the fight.
- Own goals by Locatelli and Bastoni hurt Italy badly, but they couldn’t stop them from winning.
- Giacomo Raspadori and Matteo Politano each also scored, helping build that 4-2 lead.
- Dor Peretz scored both of Israel’s goals, showing they never gave up.
- Sandro Tonali delivered the dramatic stoppage-time winner that kept Italy’s hopes alive
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