ISRAEL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Switzerland and Israel draw 2-2 in opening World Cup Group Two qualifier, reax

Record ID: 395590

  • Title: ISRAEL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Switzerland and Israel draw 2-2 in opening World Cup Group Two qualifier, reax
  • Date: 8th September 2008
  • Summary: (SX) RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (SEPTEMBER 6, 2008) (REUTERS) OTTMAR HITZFELD, SWITZERLAND COACH, ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (German) OTTMAR HITZFELD, SWITZERLAND COACH, SAYING: "We controlled the match for a long time, during the second half, and then were punished at 2-1 through a mistake by the defence in the centre - and after that Israel threw everything they had fo
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5AYXND72L5G6IWZKPMRDB08KL
  • Story Text: An injury-time goal from Ben Sahar earned Israel a 2-2 comeback draw with Switzerland in their opening World Cup Group Two qualifier on Saturday (September 6), a goal bemoaned later by Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
    Israel had an uphill battle after Hakan Yakin and Blaise Nkufo scored either side of halftime for Switzerland.
    But Yossi Benayoun reduced the arrears in the 73rd minute before Sahar's late euqaliser.
    "We controlled the match for a long time, during the second half, and then were punished at 2-1 through a mistake by the defence in the centre - and after that Israel threw everything they had forwards and risked everything and all we could do was to defend, we couldn't hold the ball anymore and came under immense pressure," said Hitzfeld.
    Israel coach Dror Kashtan paid tribute to his team's fighting spirit.
    "I think you could see the new spirit and ambition and not giving up even when they were 2-0 down. You could see them play and they were able to come back from being 2-0 down, which is not simple and showed a lot of character, maturity and team unity," he said.
    Switzerland's next game is against Luxembourg at home on Wednesday.
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