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Maccabi's Tal Ben Chaim stars as Israel open their Euro 2016 campaign with a 1-2 win in Cyprus

Israel, with five Maccabi Tel Aviv players in their ranks, kicked off their Euro 2016 campaign with a hard-fought 1-2 away win at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia in Cyprus. Defenders Eytan Tibi, Sheran Yeini and Omri Ben Harush, midfielder Eran Zahavi and striker Tal Ben Haim were all in head coach Eli Gutman's first eleven, but it was Ben Chaim whose early season form made the headlines and guaranteed Israel a 0-2 lead at half-time. On 38 minutes he outran his marker down the left and crossed back into the area for Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder Gili Vermouth to slot home for Israel's first. Six minutes later Vermouth returned the favour when he found Ben Chaim in space inside the area. In an outstanding personal effort Ben Chaim then proceeded to zig-zag his way past two Cypriot defenders before striking beyond the Cypriot goalkeeper. The goal was Ben Chaim's second in eight appearances for the national side.

After the restart the Cypriots managed to pull one back to provide a nail-biting finish, but in the end Israel held on for a 1-2 victory that earned them all three points. Goalscorer and provider Ben Chaim was substituted fifteen minutes before time, but his four Maccabi Tel Aviv team-mates all played the full 90 minutes. On Monday those same five Maccabi stalwarts will join Eli Gutman and the rest of the Israel squad when they travel to Andorra for their second match of the current Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.