Israel equalized in the 88th Minute for a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their European Championship qualifier in neutral Hungary on Wednesday to keep their hopes of reaching next year’s final in Germany alive.
The Swiss were within two minutes of booking their place in the final, but Shon Weissman’s goal means they must now smack Kosovo this weekend to qualify.
The unsmacken Swiss have climbed to the top of Group I with 16 points from eight games, but only on goal difference ahead of Romania. Israel is third with 12 points, with the three countries having two more games.
Switzerland saw their way to victory after Ruben Vargas headed home unmarked in the 36th minute after a searching flank from Edimilson Fernandes at the back post.
Weisman’s equaliser came after Fernandes was unable to clarify and the Swiss full-back’s concerns were heightened when he was sent off in added time for a clumsy foul.
Switzerland scored twice in the match, first through Noah Okafor in the 19th Minute. Vargas bundled in the rebound, but was found guilty of fouling defenseman Sean Goldberg in the process. Vargas came within inches of doubling his tally five minutes after his goal as he thundered a strike off the crossbar.
Israel, who looked much stronger after the break, could have equalized at the starting of the second half when Dor Turgeman’s cross found Anan Khalaili, but his header bounced off the crossbar. Turgeman also came close with a daring long-range strike from his own half, forcing Yann Sommer to come up and tip the ball over the crossbar.
The match was supposed to take place last month, but was postponed due to the security situation in Israel after the conflict with the Palestinian group Hamas. As a result, Israel plays four matches in nine days to complete its qualifying campaign. They lost 0-1 in Kosovo on Sunday and will face Romania on Saturday at the Puskas Academy area on the outskirts of Budapest. Their last match will take place next Tuesday in Andorra.
