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Portugal national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 11, 2013 at 8.45pm UK
 
Israel national football team

1-1

Costa (27')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Basat (85')

Live Commentary: Portugal 1-1 Israel - as it happened

Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage of the Group F clash between Portugal and Israel in Lisbon.
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Portugal have been held to a 1-1 draw with Israel in Group F of the World Cup qualifying campaign this evening.

Despite their dominance, Paulo Bento's side were unable to add to Ricardo Costa's opening goal.

Eden Ben Basat grabbed the equaliser for the away side away after a mistake from Rui Patricio five minutes from time.

See how the action unfolded below.


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Well, that's all from me folk, bye for now.

The draw was flattering for the visitors who should have been put out of sight by the Portuguese. Paulo Bento's side had a few good chances, but did not have too many glorious ones. Although they certainly did enough to feel that they deserved the full three points.

Well, would you have guessed that outcome? It looked for all the world that Portugal were easing to a quiet 1-0 home win until Rui Patricio's moment of madness gifted the Israelis with a way back into it.

FULL TIME: Portugal 1-1 Israel

Risky from Ben Haim who tries to lob it over Eder's head but doesn't come off. Portugal scream for a handball from the defender as he launches himself forward to clear a ball with his head.

BOOKING: Cristiano Ronaldo goes in the book for remonstrating with the referee over a decision

We're in the last two minutes here, is there some more late drama?

CHANCE! Ronaldo hammers it goalwards, but Aouate is equal to it to beat it away for a corner. The corner comes in and Eder goes down but no penalty awarded and it is the right decision.

BOOKINGK: Tal Ben Haim

Eder is fouled by Ben Haim who gets a booking for his efforts. Less than a yard outside the box, real chance...

Just what Rui Patricio was thinking is anyone's guess. A dreadful moment for the keeper. Portugal have been far the better side and will feel hard done by if it stays like this.

PORTUGAL SUB Eder on for Miguel Veloso. Portugal need a goal from somewhere. A draw will feel like a defeat.

Disaster for Rui Patricio who passes Ben Basat the ball 15 yards out and the striker finishes it off with minimal fuss. What a terrible mistake by the keeper that was. 1-1, would you believe it!

GOAL! Portugal 1-1 Israel (Eden Ben Basat)

BOOKING: Pepe goes into the book for hammering home a point to the referee.

Israel playing a dangerous game by passing round the backline under pressure, but Nani fouls Meshumar and the danger is averted.

We're into the last 10 minutes and Israel don't look like keeping their World Cup hopes alive here. They need two and they haven't looked like scoring one.

CHANCE! Superb play all round, Veloso clips it on to Antunes who is bombing forward into the box and his first time shot is well-saved by Aouate, who does enough to turn it over the bar. Instant shot and save by the pair. Great play.

Portugal work it well and Nani crosses it but Antunes is unable to get on the end of it from the other wing. The home side are starting to turn the screw though.

That's more like it from Nani, a step-over brings him inside and he plays a give-and-go with Veloso but he is muscled out of it as he breaks into the box. Good, effective play from Nani though and we haven't been able to say that all night.

Pepe hauls down substitute Rafaelov down and Naktho crosses the resulting freekick to no avail. Portugal break and Ronaldo gives it to Josue who then brings in his fellow sub Nelson Oliviera, who tries a lob over goalkeeper. He perhaps should have passed to Ronaldo, but it was a good effort.

Nani feeds Josue along the penalty area and the Porto midfielder hits it low just wide. He's only just come on but it's a positive start on his Portugal debut.

PORTUGAL SUB: Ruben Micael is taken off for Nelson Oliviera while Josue is brought on in place of Hugo Almeida

ISRAEL SUB: Lior Rafaelov replaces Maharan Radi for Israel

Almeida wins Pepe's long ball forward in the air but it can't find Ronaldo with the flick down. The Real Madrid man has been well-marshalled this evening. Not many defenders can say that. Ronaldo has just given it away and the crowd are starting to become annoyed.

Not a lot happening at the moment for the home side. Hugo Almeida's header has been the best chance of the half for the home side. Ricardo Costa went close also. Tal Ben Haim is going to receive treatment, he looks winded, but he is back on his feet.

Andre Almeida almost finds Ronaldo with a long pass but the goalkeeper Dudu Aouate gathers and begins an attack for Israel. They lose it up the pitch though and Portugal come again...

CHANCE! Ricardo Costa looking for his second Portugal goal. The corner evades everyone but he keeps it alive at the back post and his downward header bounces up over the bar. Close for the defender.

ISRAEL SUB: Tal Chaim replaces Barda for the visitors.

A short corner from Israel comes back to Radi and his high cross is easily gathered by Rui Patricio. Those kind of situations are were Israel need to do better.

They're queuing up to score. Ronaldo feeds it to Almeida who leaves it for Micael who tees up Nani and the winger's shot is blocked and it goes out for a corner. They had men over there and should have done better.

Moutinho's corner is cleared by the first man and Ronaldo's resulting left footed shot is easily gathered by the keeper. He never really got hold of it, although it was accurate.

GOAL RULED OUT Almeida thought he had made amends, Atunes floats a great ball into him and the striker nods it past the keeper. Lovely finish but he was flagged for offside.

CHANCE! Henri Ben Harush is released down the left and he has acres to come inside, but his shot is weak and Patricio gathers. Best chance of the match for the visitors. Something for the home side to think about though...

CHANCE! Ronaldo with a few trademark step-overs and a good cross to Hugo Almeida but the Besiktas forward heads up and over. Should have done better, in fact, he should have scored. Poor miss.

Decent approach play from the Israelis breaks down Costa intercepts and gives it to Moutinho, who plays it to Ronaldo with a lovely long ball. Ronaldo is tackled by Ben Haim though. The former Chelsea man is having a good game tonight.

Israel have started brightly, and they look like a different team. Let's see if they'll make more of a fist of it this half.

Nani loses it again, and whistles can be heared around the stadium. The fans are starting to get agitated by the winger's display tonight.

KICK OFF: We're off and running again at Estadio da Luz.

The two teams have re-emerged from the tunnel. We're close to getting the second half underway here.

UPDATE: Daniel Sturridge has put England 4-1 up from the penalty spot. Just three points against Poland on Tuesday will seal the Three Lions' place in next summer's World Cup. An excellent night for Roy Hodgson's men.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani are not enjoying their finest nights out there this evening though it must be said, but you bet against the former grabbing all the headlines in the second half? I wouldn't.

As long as it stays 1-0 though, Israel will feel that they can nick an equaliser. Football has a habit doing it, and as unlikely as it may look, Eli Guttman may feel his side can grab something.

Back to this game, and you have to think there are more goals in this for the home side if they apply themselves. Israel have barely ventured out of their own half and we have hardly mentioned any of their players on commentary.

UPDATE: In the two earlier games, Azerbaijan beat Northern Ireland 2-0 and Moldova overcame San Marino 3-0. That brings you right up to speed with the results in the World Cup qualifiers today.

UPDATE: The Netherlands eventually ran out 8-1 winners over Hungary this evening, as Germany cruised past Republic of Ireland 3-0. Denmark held Italy 2-2 and Ukraine beat Poland 1-0.

UPDATE: England are leading Montenegro 3-1 at Wembley, with Wales also beating Macedonia 1-0. Spain and Belarus are currently goalless.

The half time interval gives us a chance to have a nose around the other scores this evening, so the results and live scores are...

Well, despite their dominance, Portugal still only leading by the one goal. They haven't created too much by the way of clear cut chances, but they have certainly been the better side.

HALF TIME: Portugal 1 - 0 Israel

We're into stoppage time here.

Bit of a let off for the home side. Micael lofts a ball back to the goalkeeper, but it doesn't quite reach him and Pepe has to clear up and is harshly judged to have been fouled by Ben Basat. The forward could have been in there.

Joao Moutinho feeds Ronaldo, who plays in Nani and the winger tries a backheel immediately to release Ronaldo, but it doesn't quite come off. Lovely play though. The fans certainly enjoyed it.

Pepe tried a cross field pass but gets it wrong and concedes a throw in, but Israel are unable to hold on to it for any period of time. Portugal have it back.

That could so easily have been 2-0! Pepe flicks it on at the near post from a corner and the ball seems to hit Almeida in the chest and bounces out. Could have crept in.

Pepe wins the header but then Nani can't get enough on it and just sends it high in the air. Israel eventually clear it after Aouate flaps at a punched clearance

Atunes is again found, this time by Ronaldo and the defender's run forces a corner for the home side...

Lovely stuff from the Portuguese, Ronaldo threads Micael who flicks it beyond his man and plays a one-two with Almeida before releasing Atunes. However the left back can't match the standard of play and loses it.

Now Ronaldo might have a point to be annoyed this time, he skips pass three challenges and lays in Nani out wide. Ronaldo continues his run into the box for Nani's cross is blocked by the first man. Really poor from the Man Utd man.

Corner is cleared but the ball comes back towards the far post. Almeida can't win the header properly though and it's a goal kick. Ronaldo looks frustrated by the outcome.

Again, Israel are content to let Portugal have it but once a man in the final third is found, the pressure it turned on. Nani find Almeida at the near post but Ben Haim gets in there and clears for a corner.

It's getting a bit scrappy in midfield here with neither side able to hold on to it. Portugal eventually work it out wide but Nani gives it away trying to find Micael.

Pepe fires it low across the goal at the back post after Veloso picks him out unmarked and Costa slides into to clip it into the net. First thoughts were that it was an own goal but it was the centre-back to claimed it. 1-0 to the home side.

GOAL! Portugal 1 - 0 Israel (Ricardo Costa)

Ruben Micael races onto a nod down from Almeida, but he is muscled out of it by three defenders. Micael is having a good game out there though and is giving the Portuguese a lot of energy to get beyond the lone frontman this evening.

CHANCE! Nani escapes his man and hits a fierce cross-come-shot across the goal but Aouate palms it away for a corner. The resulting corner comes to Ricardo Costa at the edge of the box but he balloons it.

Israel with a rare foray forward, breaks down when it goes back to Ben Haim and he fires it forward only to see it bounce away and out for a goal kick.

Lovely bit of dribbling from Nani, but strangely, Ronaldo gets in his way and Ben Haim intercepts and takes it off the Manchester United man. Ronaldo should have left it, Nani was preparing to fire a left foot shot at goal on the edge of the box.

Shot from Ronaldo! all he needs is a yard. He takes it back to goal 30 yards out and spins his marker before firing a low drive just wide of the keeper's left hand side.

Ricardo Costa plays in Antunes down the left, his cross is blocked and Portugal take it back centrally. Plenty of space for Bento's side, until the final third. Israel are cutting off the supply quite well.

CHANCE! Tal Ben Haim intercepts Ronaldo's through ball and the defender strides on to it and carries it 30 plus yards. He plays in Maharan Radi, but he drags his shot wide on the edge of the box.

Nani delivers a lovely cross out wide in the right, but no one is able to attack it and it goes out for a throw in on the nearside.

That's poor from the away side, Ben Harush with no pressure on him slides it out wide and overhits it and concedes a throw in on the half-way line.

Nani's dummy feeds Ronaldo with his back to the goal and the Real Madrid man has men on him, he stabs it back outside the box but the Israelis get it clear and win a freekick to settle things down.

Portugal are knocking it about nicely in their own half and Israel seem happy enough to let them have it in those areas. No pressure on the ball.

A corner kick for Israel comes to nothing and Moutinho clears it stylishly. The home side really enjoyed that clearance.

Ronaldo fires in a freekick from an outrageous distance and get a firm connection, but it hits a teammate and bounces out.

Sheran Yeini with a crude challenge on Nani gives Portugal a freekick in a good position. The kick if crossed in but Tal Ben Haim rises highest to clear.

CHANCE! Nani floats a cross onto Almeida's head and he cushions it for Micael but he can't connect properly and he scuffs it wide. I think the keeper has it covered.

Nice interchange between Ricardo Costa and Ronaldo nearly releases the midfielder but Hugo Almeida stumbles on it and it breaks down.

Andre Almeida is released down the right side but his deep cross is too high and long and Israel escape with it on their own right side.

KICK OFF: And we're off in Lisbon.

We're just about ready to get things underway. The two captains are going through the coin toss procedure.

Earlier today Azerbaijan beat Northern Ireland 2-0 and Moldova overcame San Marino 3-0. Spain kick off against Belarus in about 15 minutes.

Denmark and Italy are playing out a 1-1 draw at the moment, while Poland are trailing Ukraine in England's group.

We're running through the formalities of the national anthems. It just gives me a chance to remind you of other scores around Europe this evening. Wales and England are both being held to Macedonia and Montenegro respectively, with the Netherlands are 4-0 up against Hungary at home.

The two teams emerge from the tunnel at the Estadio da Luz, which of course translates as the Stadium of Light.

I must admit, I am looking forward to seeing Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho in action this evening. As much as Ronaldo is the main man for the Portuguese, the midfield duo are a talented pair who keep the ball for fun.

Bento's side will also want to avoid the banana skin of having to qualify via the playoffs also, so there is an incentive for the home side to go for the three points also.

This should be an entertaining game this evening, Israel need to attack and go for the win to keep alive their chances, while the Portuguese are always technically sublime .

Both teams' last matches ended in 3-1 defeats, with the Portuguese being beaten by Brazil in an entertaining friendly in America last month, while Israel were defeated by Russia in a group game.

Of course, despite the injuries, Bento still has the power to name Cristiano Ronaldo among his starting lineup, and it is always a pleasure to watch one of the planet's finest players in action.

ISRAEL: Aouate; Meshumar, Ben Haim, Sheran Yeini, Ben Harush, Tibi; Barda, Natkho, Zahavi, Maharan Radi; Ben Basat

PORTUGAL: Rui Patrício; Andre Almeida, Pepe, Ricardo Costa, Antunes; Micael, Miguel Veloso, Moutinho; Nani, Hugo Almeida, Ronaldo

We're just getting some team news here and there have been several changes for the home side...

Paulo Bento has had several injuries to contend with defenders Fabio Coentrao, Joao Pereira and Miguel Lopes and Bruno Alves all out of action along with former Liverpool and Chelsea midfielder Raul Meireles.

Israel can close the gap on the second-placed Portuguese with a win, which would keep alive their slim hopes of making the playoffs. The gap would be reduced to two points should they emerge victorious, with a final game against Azerbaijan still to play.

A win for Portugal could take them top of the group with the final game to play, although they are relying on Luxembourg getting a result against table-topping Russia, which is a tall order for the home side.

Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of tonight's Group F World Cup qualifier between Portugal and Israel.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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