Israel thrashes Guatemala 7-0 in soccer friendly

Israeli national team shows off goal-scoring prowess ahead of key international game against Scotland next week

By ToI Staff 16 November 2018, 12:34 pm
Israeli midfielder Dia Saba (R) shoots the ball past Guatemalan goalkeeper Paulo Motta to score in a FIFA friendly soccer match between Israel and Guatemala at Netanya Municipal Stadium on November 15, 2018. (Jack Guez/AFP)

Israel’s national soccer team inflicted a humiliating 7-0 defeat on Guatemala in a friendly game Thursday ahead of a key match in an international tournament next week.

The goals came early and fast for the Israeli side, with scoring sensation Eran Zahavi putting a ball in the back of the net in just the fifth minute of play.

Taleb Tawatha and Moanes Dabour each scored a goal to put Israel up 3-0 at halftime, while Dabour scored again in the 53rd minute to kick off the second half on the right foot.

Dia Saba later added a pair of goals and Ben Sahar scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute to send the crowd of 5,900 Israeli fans in Netanya home on a high note.

Israeli striker Eran Zahavi (L) reacts after scoring a goal against Guatemala during the FIFA friendly soccer match between Israel and Guatemala at Netanya Municipal Stadium on November 15, 2018. (Jack Guez/AFP)

The match was a warmup ahead of Israel’s UEFA Nations League game on Tuesday against Scotland, in which a victory would punch the Israeli squad’s ticket to the tournament playoffs following its 2-0 win over Albania last month.

The game in Glasgow is the second to be played between the Israeli and Scottish sides in the first round round of the UEFA tournament, with Israel having won the first game last month 2-1 in Haifa.

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