Key Takeaways:
- Italy recorded a 5-4 away victory against Israel on neutral ground in Debrecen, Hungary last night
- Gennaro Gattuso’s side scored five goals for the second consecutive match, an unprecedented achievement in their history
- Israel equalised twice in the closing stages before Sandro Tonali netted Italy’s decisive fifth goal in added time
Match Overview
Italy emerged victorious in an extraordinary 5-4 clash against Israel, played in Debrecen, Hungary. Under the stewardship of Gennaro Gattuso and in only his second match in charge, the Azzurri repeated their five-goal feat for the first time in national team history, but were forced to overcome significant defensive lapses and dramatic late circumstances.
ONE OF THE CRAZIEST GAMES OF FOOTBALL YOU MIGHT EVER SEE!!
ISRAEL COME BACK FROM 4-2 to 4-4! Almost immediately Italy take back the lead AGAIN! 5-4 😵😵😵 pic.twitter.com/1VaWlDfQFf
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 8, 2025
First-Half Drama and Defensive Woes
Israel came out on the front foot and nearly capitalised within three minutes, as Gianluigi Donnarumma, newly signed by Manchester City, misplaced a pass straight to an opponent. A subsequent dangerous passage saw Biton navigate around the Italian keeper, yet from a difficult angle his cut-back was cleared by Alessandro Bastoni.
Moments later, Donnarumma was again in the spotlight as he mishandled a punch from a corner, sending the ball into his own net. Although the referee nullified the goal due to a contentious foul by Lemkin against Donnarumma, Lemkin soon departed injured, deepening Israel’s selection woes. The Italians continued to look uneasy at the back with a misjudged back pass from Barella prompting another panicked clearance from Donnarumma. Israel’s persistence was rewarded in the 16th minute when Biton’s ball across the face of goal was inadvertently turned in by Manuel Locatelli for an own goal.
The Italians responded after the half-hour mark when Locatelli struck the bar with a superb effort before Moise Kean fired just wide, missing a chance to pull level. However, in the 40th minute, Kean made amends, finishing clinically after excellent play from Barella and Retegui to leave the match level at the break.
Second Half: Goal Rush and High Drama
Italy returned from the interval with renewed intent. Kean was twice denied by Israel’s goalkeeper after receiving intelligent play from Locatelli, but it was Israel who edged ahead in the 52nd minute, as Solomon’s incisive run and pass set up Dor Peretz to beat Donnarumma.
Instantly from kick-off, Kean capitalised on indecision in the Israeli defence to level the scores at 2-2. The momentum stayed with Italy, who seized their first lead in the 58th minute; Retegui’s clever back-heel from a throw-in enabled Matteo Politano to score past the Israeli keeper.
Israel, however, responded by applying pressure of their own. Locatelli cleared Peretz’s shot off the line in the 75th minute and Donnarumma was again called into action. Italy seemed to have secured victory when substitute Giacomo Raspadori finished an excellent team move for the visitors’ fourth goal in the 81st minute.
Late Surge and Unprecedented Scoreline
The closing moments of normal time saw the Azzurri defence unravel once more. In the 87th minute, Bastoni turned the ball into his own net following a sequence of defensive mishaps, allowing Israel to pull one back. Moments later, Baribo crossed for Dor Peretz, who tapped in for a 90th-minute equaliser, completing his brace and drawing Israel level at 4-4.
The drama was not over. Almost immediately from the restart, Sandro Tonali’s delivery into the area created chaos, culminating in the ball finding its way past the Israeli goalkeeper in stoppage time, clinching a 5-4 triumph for Gattuso’s men.
Scoring Summary
| Minute | Goal Scorer | Score | Goal Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Locatelli (own goal) | Israel 1-0 Italy | Own goal following cross by Biton |
| 40 | Kean | Israel 1-1 Italy | Assisted by Retegui |
| 52 | Dor Peretz | Israel 2-1 Italy | Shot after Solomon’s run |
| 54 | Kean | Israel 2-2 Italy | Took advantage of slow defence |
| 58 | Politano | Israel 2-3 Italy | Shot after Retegui’s back-heel |
| 81 | Raspadori | Israel 2-4 Italy | Finished excellent combination |
| 87 | Bastoni (own goal) | Israel 3-4 Italy | Own goal following defensive lapse |
| 90 | Dor Peretz | Israel 4-4 Italy | Assisted by Baribo |
| 90+1 | Tonali | Israel 4-5 Italy | Cross evades all, ends up in net |
Statistical Notes
- Italy have scored five goals in consecutive matches for the first time in their history
- Dor Peretz registered a brace for Israel in a spirited display
- The match featured two own goals and a total of nine goals scored
