Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi starred in Israel's momentous victory over Bosnia
With five Maccabi Tel Aviv stars in the starting eleven, Israel last night booked an important victory by convincingly dispatching Bosnia 3-0 in their third qualifying match for Euro 2016. After winning their first two qualifiers against Cyprus and Andorra, head coach Eli Gutman's Israel squad clearly had hopes of extending their run of good form and have now compiled a perfect nine points from three matches. Maccabi midfielder Eran Zahavi, winger Tal Ben Chaim and defenders Eytan Tibi, Omri Ben Harush and Sheran Yeini were all included in the starting eleven and all played a stylish role in the national team's stunning victory over the top-ranked side in their Group B. The Bosnian eleven included one ex-Maccabi player, midfielder Haris Medunjanin, who in a frantic opening half hour or so missed an opportunity to give his side the lead. At the other end Tal Ben Chaim hit the post twice, but it was his Maccabi Tel Aviv team-mate, Eran Zahavi, who on 36 minutes set up the first Israel goal when Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder Gili Vermouth, with a little help from a Bosnian defender, slammed his pass just outside the area past the Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. A minute before the break it was another clever Zahavi pass that led to Israel's second. This time it was an ex-Hapoel player, Omer Damari, who was on the receiving end and the striker fired home from from inside the area to send the sides off at half time with Israel in the lead 2-0.
Three minutes after the restart Bosnia's troubles deepened when defender Toni Sunjic saw straight red for bundling over Omer Damari in a clear goalscoring opportunity, provided by Maccabi Tel Aviv's Sheran Yeini. Twenty minutes from time Omer Damari returned Eran Zahavi first-half favour and sent him through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Begovic got a leg to Zahavi's powerful shot but it found the net and settled the scoring at 3-0. Zahavi, featuring in his third match for the national team, played all 90 minutes, as did Sheran Yeini, Eytan Tibi and Tal Ben Chaim. Of all the Maccabi Tel Aviv players on the pitch, only Omri Ben Harush was substituted twelve minutes from time suffering a knock to his leg. Tibi leads the Maccabi Tel Aviv players with 270 minutes on the pitch in the current campaign, followed by Ben Chaim (253), Zahavi (250), Yeini (180) and Ben Harush (168).
The win leaves Israel at the top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group B with nine points and a game in hand over second-placed Wales, who after a goalless draw with Belgium have eight points from four matches. Israel's next qualifiers will take place on the 28th and 31st of March when they host both Wales and Belgium within the space of three days. The Wales match on the 28th, like last night, will be held at Haifa's brand new "Sammy Ofer" Stadium. Israel will face Belgium on the 31st at Jerusalem's "Teddy" Stadium.
