FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers
Israel v Scotland
Sunday, 28 March 2021, kick-off 7.45pm
Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv

Scotland were held to a 1-1 draw with Israel in World Cup Qualifying, coming from behind yet again to secure a point. 

A disappointing first half was followed by an improved second as Ryan Fraser cancelled out Dor Peretz's opener. 

The familiar opponents met for the sixth time in the space of three years, with the encounter played at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv.

Team news

Steve Clarke named three changes from the side which drew with Austria on Thursday, with Che Adams making his first start after being introduced from the bench on Thursday, replacing Lyndon Dykes.

Ryan Fraser and Callum McGregor came in for Ryan Christie and Stuart Armstrong in the starting eleven.  

As it happened

In a bright and busy opening ten minutes, both sides had opportunities to break the deadlock.

The first fell to the hosts, who looked like they were about to pounce on some confusion in the Scotland defence. Manor Solomon collected the ball, shifted it on to his right foot and curled his strike inches past the upright.

Scotland’s first real chance came from a set-piece, with a dangerous delivery being met by the towering header of Scott McTominay, who nodded his effort narrowly wide of the mark.

The Manchester United midfielder was involved a few minutes later, arriving in the box to get on the end of a low cross from Ryan Fraser, but his first time effort flew over the bar.

David Marshall produced a tremendous stop to deny Solomon midway through the first half, when the Shakhtar Donetsk man was afforded too much time and space in the box to get his shot away which he fired low and centrally at the Scotland goal, where Marshall stood tall.

At the other end, Fraser sent Adams racing through on goal. With Marciano charging out from his goal, the Scotland striker showed commitment to chase down the ball, only for Marciano to clear the danger and win a freekick in the process.

It was Israel who enjoyed the better chances in the opening 45 and they tested Marshall for the second time of the night with a strong header from Shon Weissman, who directed his effort in to the ground but it was comfortable for Marshall who gathered the danger.

With under a minute remaining before the break, Israel opened the scoring and in some style. Dor Peretz was given too much space on the edge of the box and struck a terrific effort towards the top corner. Marshall got his hands to it but could only push it in to his net.

Clarke made a change at half time, introducing Ryan Christie for Jack Hendry, who picked up a yellow card early in the match.

The Scots started the second half better and enjoyed large spells of possession with the shape shifting to a back four and a three-pronged support of Fraser, McGinn and Christie behind Adams.

Before long, Scotland were level, coming from behind for the third time in the group already to draw level.

It was excellent from Adams, racing forward after the ball was won on the halfway line by Christie, laying it off for Fraser in space to his left, who took two touches to set himself before steering the ball in to the bottom left corner past the dive of Marciano.

The striker was involved again as Steve Clarke’s side continued to grow in to the game. He drove in to the box down the left and struck a fierce effort towards goal, which was blocked by the Israel defence. Moments later, Tierney tried his luck from range but Marciano denied him with a decent stop.

With fifteen minutes remaining, the manager made two more changes in a bid to push for all three points. John McGinn made way for Kenny McLean, with Adams being replaced by Dykes up front.

The home side continued to push and for the fans in attendance, it looked as though they were on the brink of grabbing a winner when Solomon collected the ball inside the box. Shaping to strike on his right foot, Stephen O’Donnell made a crucial block to deny the goal bound effort from troubling Marshall between the posts.

In a final bid to snatch victory, Clarke brought on Armstrong for goal scorer Fraser in the final five minutes in Tel Aviv.

Neither side could find the breakthrough though as time ran out for Steve Clarke's men to find what would have been a very important winner. 

As it stands

Scotland may be unbeaten in the group but with Denmark and Austria both winning, a draw leaves Scotland trailing leaders Denmark by four points in Group F. 

Austria sit one spot above third-placed Scotland on four points, two points above Steve Clarke's side. 

Scotland: Marshall; Hendry (Christie, ’45), Hanley, Tierney; O’Donnell, McTominay, McGinn (McLean, ’74), McGregor, Robertson; Fraser (Armstrong, ’86), Adams (Dykes, ’74)

Unused subs: Gordon, McLaughlin, Considine, Fleck, Gallagher, McKenna, Nisbet, McBurnie

Israel: Marciano, Arad, Tibi, Elhamed, Dasa, Menachem, Natcho (Lavi, ’63), Peretz, Zahavi, Solomon, Weissman

Unused subs: Haziza, Hanna, Nitzan, Blorian, Kayal, Kleyman, Abada, Dabbur, Kandil, Taha, Fani