Tonali’s Late Strike Seals Dramatic 5-4 Victory for Italy in Qualifying Thriller Against Israel

DEBRECEN, Hungary – Italy emerged victorious from a remarkable nine-goal thriller against Israel, securing a crucial 5-4 victory in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday that revives their hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament after missing the previous two editions.

In a match featuring multiple lead changes and defensive lapses, Moise Kean’s brace and a 90th-minute winner from Sandro Tonali ultimately decided the contest at the Nagyerdei Stadion. The victory extends Italy’s unbeaten record against Israel to eight matches and gives new manager Gennaro Gattuso his second win in as many games.

The match began controversially when Israel had an early goal disallowed for a disputed foul on Federico Dimarco, before Manuel Locatelli’s own goal put Israel ahead in the 15th minute. Kean equalized just before halftime, setting up a frantic second half that saw four goals in just over 20 minutes, including strikes from Dor Peretz and Matteo Politano.

Italy appeared to have secured the points when substitute Giacomo Raspadori made it 4-2, but two quick Israeli goals from Alessandro Bastoni (own goal) and Dor Peretz leveled the score at 4-4 before Tonali’s dramatic late intervention.

The victory moves Italy into a strong position in their qualifying group, significantly enhancing their prospects of at least securing a playoff spot. For Israel, the defeat represents a missed opportunity despite their impressive offensive performance, leaving them with work to do to maintain their own qualification hopes.