Scotland dig deep but are held to a draw by Israel
Steve Clarke got the necessary response from his players after his half-time pep talk inspired scotland to fight back and claim a 1-1 draw in Israel.
Scotland fell behind after a below-par first period when Dor Peretz found the top corner from 25 yards moments from the interval. Ryan Fraser levelled ten minutes after the restart with Scotland reshaped and reinvigorated when he tucked in Che Adams’ assist past Ofir Marciano.
The goalscorer revealed how Clarke’s instructions at the interval – when he also replaced defender Jack Hendry with Celtic forward Ryan Christie – prompted Scotland’s improvements and a goal for the Newcastle winger to equalise.
“We showed character and the gaffer said at half-time we had to stand up and do a lot better,” revealed Fraser.
“I thought we did that manto-man. We could have sat in our shell at 1-0 and it could have got worse but the gaffer had us coming out fighting and I thought we dominated the game in the second half and our passages of play were brilliant. We had 12 shots and while I think on another day our final ball could have been a little better, the way we played and pressed and passed in the second half was a lot better. We took a little while to get going in the first half but, when we got to grips in the second half, we dominated and should have won in the end." Fraser’s third international goal ensured Scotland remain undefeated and third in Group F, with the Faroe Islands to come on Wednesday at Hampden. Fraser is relishing that game and, hopefully, recording an overdue win.
"When I come away, I love it,” he added. “The last trip I pulled my hamstring the week before and I missed it but when I come away I can’t get a smile off my face. Once you put the Scotland jersey on, you give it everything.
"To score another goal is very pleasing for me, but obviously I wanted to win tonight and I’d give my goal away for the win.
"Now it’s onto the Faroes and, if I play, I’ll do my best. We just want to go and win the game now.”
Another comeback keeps Scotland on the road to Qatar. Hopes of qualifying have, however, receded in the Promised Land as Steve Clarke’s side dropped further points at the start of another World Cup campaign.
Scotland stood off Dor Peretz and now risk being bystanders when the Gulf State hosts the finals next winter. The
Maccabi Tel Aviv midfielder thrashed a shot into David Marshall’s top corner after 44 minutes. Ryan Fraser equalised ten minutes after halftime which meant the visitors still had plenty of time to achieve their objectives.
Scotland arrived carrying a dossier labelled: Project Eliminate Israel. They might have succeeded in scuppering Israel's hopes while at the same time also leaving themselves too much to do.
The draw suits no one except Austria and Denmark. The throat cutting anticipated by Clarke had left Scotland in a predicament.
A Scottish victory – which Clarke stressed prior to the game was their target - would have left Israel lamenting their points return from their opening two group fixtures.
In fact it’s now both teams who must deal with this dread of wondering if it’s already too late to mount a challenge to finish in the top two places.
Scotland are far from already out of course and an away point against a side who have proved so troublesome recently would normally be cause for satisfaction.
But coupled with Thursday night’s home draw with Austria, it means Scotland are back playing a familiar game of catch up again.
Familiarity breeds contempt. And there was a certain disdain detected in the way Israel initially treated Scotland’s plans to finish them off. This was the fourth meeting between the sides this season. Scotland have only won one of these meetings and only then on penalties. Somehow the hosts are still languishing in the 80s in the FIFA rankings.
They seem to save their best
for Scotland. The same applies to Peretz. Both his international goals have come against the Scots. He scored his only other previous one in his side’s 2-1 win in Haifa in 2018. He did pick up a booking for simulation with ten minutes left after a challenge from Andy Robertson. But it was his goal from around 20 yards that seemed to move in the air and evaded Marshall that remained his most enduring mark on the night.
The Scotland goalkeeper has maintained such a high standard of performance since returning to the side under Clarke so this moment, like the one against Austria, when he failed to hold Florian Grillitsch’s shot from a long way out to let Sasa Kalajdzic put his side in front, had to be considered surprising. It was a fine strike but Marshall did get both hands to the ball and yet could not prevent it causing the net to ripple.
Clarke sought to be proactive. He replaced Jack Hendry, who had picked up a booking, with Ryan Christie at halftime and Scotland reaped the benefit of a more attacking outlook. The hard-working Fraser gathered Che Adams’ pass and bent a fine shot into the corner from 18 yards.
With Scotland already in the practice of imitating goals following John Mcginn’s Mojohnstonesque overhead kick from against Cyprus in 1989, it would have been helpful if someone had managed to produce an impression of Kenny Dalglish’s winner in Tel Aviv in 1981. Fine strike though it was, it also secured an important 1-0 win on the road to Spain ’82.
Scotland won the group on that occasion. They will be doing well to do that this time around but their first challenge is to remain in the mix. They will have to produce at least one, maybe two, eyecatching results.
Fraser’s strike means they certainly can’t be discounted but two points from six means the pressure is firmly on Clarke’s side, who host the Faroe Isles on Wednesday.
Clarke’s starting team had a pleasingly balanced look about it with Adams, making his full debut, supported by Fraser and Mcginn. Callum Mcgregor returned in midfield – one of three changes to the team that drew 2-2 with Austria on Thursday night.
The pattern of the match was similar to Scotland’s last two visits. Israel were the more dangerous side and could and perhaps should have been in front before Peretz was allowed a free shot at goal on the cusp of half-time. Their best chance prior to this had come when Marshall managed to beat away Manor Solomon’s drive after a ball inside from the dangerous Bibras Natcho. Solomon had also hit an effort over the top earlier. Marshall was also happy to clutch a Shon Weissman header from Natcho’s cross.
It wasn’t quite one way traffic. Scott Mctominay headed wide when in a good position and picked out by Robertson from a corner. Adams was also nearly played in after an astute pass from Fraser.
The Southampton forward was demonstrating why Clarke was keen to include him in this squad after hearing reports the player was prepared to switch nationality from England. He proved a willing runner, tracked back when he had to and genuinely impressed. He was also heavily involved in Scotland’s very welcome equaliser.
He drove forward on the right and looked up to see help arriving in the diminutive form of Fraser. Although his pass was slightly behind Fraser, the former Aberdeen player did well to pick it up before taking a couple of touches and sending a right footed drive into the corner of Ofir Marciano’s goal from the edge of the box.
The Hibs goalkeeper saved from Adams just after the hour mark as Scotland sought on build on the platform provided by Fraser’s strike. But the visitors could not summon the further bit of quality required. They now sit third behind Denmark and Austria. It would surprise no-one if this is their fate when the qualifying campaign is completed later this year.