Faroes Islands lose by 2 Israel second half goals
September 07, 2005: World Cup Qualifier, Faroe Islands - Israel:
Faroe Islands – Israel 0-2 (0-0)
0-1 Avy Nimny 55’
0-2 Yaniv Katan 80’
A tame Israeli side had difficulties breaking down the Faroese defense and didn’t look like a team that has a chance to qualify for the 2006 world Cup, but with 2 goals in the second half, Israel is still in it, although they need other teams to lose points.
However, Israel almost scored within the first minute of the game, when the Faroese team lost the ball on their right hand side and Israel’s Yossi Benyoun dribbled into the goal area and shot from an acute angle, but goalkeeper Jákup Mikkelsen superbly blocked the shot with one hand.
For the next 25 minutes, not many opportunities were created except a few half-chances for Israel, among others, a long range effort from Abas Soan, which went 1 meter wide of the post.
On 26 minutes, an Israeli cross from the right travelled across the whole defense and ended at the feet of Pini Balili on the left, but from the acute angel, Jákup Mikkelsen made another fine save and parried the ball out for a corner.
On 32 minutes, the Faroe Islands had their best effort in the first half, but Súni Olsen curled his free kick just a few centimeters over the crossbar.
5 minutes before the interval, Israel had a glorious chance to go to half time with the lead when they combined through the Faroese defense, but Yossi Benyoun placed the ball just outside the post on the far side.
0-0 at half time was result the Faroe Islands would be very satisfied with, but Israel would have been very concerned, because they needed a victory, if they are going to qualify for the play-offs for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Throughout all the 45 minutes, Israel never looked like a team that has a ….
The Israeli players have probably been given a wigging, as they did improve in the second half, but still, they were never impressive in any way and it’s difficult to see how they can have played France, Ireland and Switzerland without losing.
However, it were Faroes who went close to scoring after 5 minutes of the second half when Christian Høgni Jacobsen on the left wing made a cross for Rógvi Jacobsen, who came flying through the air, but the goalkeeper punched the ball just in front of Jacobsen’s nose.
However, Israel finally found the goal 9 minutes into the second half. After a Faroese attack, Súni Olsen misjudged the bounce of the ball and allowed Israel to counter. Benyoun played Katan on the right who crossed the ball to Avy Nimny on the left. He feinted a defender off and from the edge of the penalty area he shot a low powerful well placed shot into the bottom right corner.
After Israel’s goal, the Faroes threw caution to the wind in search for an equalizer and that often left the Faroese defence vulnerable to Israeli counter attacks.
On 63 minutes Benyoun played Nimny clear, but he placed the ball on the wrong side of the left post, when he should have scored.
On 77 minutes the Faroe Islands had a try again. From the left Heðin á Lakjuni crossed the ball to Claus Beck Jørgensen on the right, and he passed the ball to Súni Olsen who fires a from the edge of the penalty area, but the goalkeeper makes a diving save.
The minute later it was Instead Israel who made it 2-0. A cross from the left found Yaniv Katan at the near post and he put the ball behind Jákup Mikkselsen in the Faroese goal.
On 83 minutes they could have made it 3-0, but Benyoun saw his free header in the goal area saved on the line by a defender.
5 minutes from the end, the Faroe Islands had their best opportunity of the match. Súni Olsen takes a long throw in on the left and Rógvi Jacobsen heads the ball to Andrew av Fløtum in the goal area who shoots, but the Israeli keeper makes a super-save and Jacobsen then puts the rebound over the crossbar.
3 points for Israel and they are still within a chance to reach the play off stage for the 2006 World Cup, but they are depend on other Ireland and Switzerland losing points. Israel meet the Faroe Islands again on October 8, this time in Israel.