Eduardo treble ends Israel run

Croatia's UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign remains firmly on course after a 4-3 win against Israel in Tel-Aviv. A hat-trick from Eduardo da Silva and Darijo Srna's penalty helped the visitors cancel out Roberto Colautti's double strike and returned them to the top of Group E after Russia had briefly led following an earlier victory in F.Y.R. Macedonia.

Defensive howler
Colautti gave the home side the advantage on eight minutes after a defensive mix-up in Croatia's defence. Israel's attack appeared to have broken down when Josip Šimunić and Vedran Čorluka crowded out Gal Aberman on the edge of the area, but Šimunić's back-pass caught advancing Croatia goalkeeper Vedran Runje unawares and Colautti claimed the simplest of tap-ins.

Poor back-pass
Despite the setback Slaven Bilić's team stuck to their intricate passing game, with Niko Kranjčar pulling the midfield strings. On 35 minutes Croatia's pressure paid off although, once more, it was a defensive error that led to the goal. Tomer Ben-Yosef sold goalkeeper Dudu Awat short with a lax back-pass and the Israel custodian brought Mladen Petrić down in the area, enabling Srna to score a confident penalty.

Eduardo double
Croatia were then deservedly ahead in the 39th minute when Eduardo raced on to Kranjčar's defence-splitting pass and stroked the ball through Awat's legs to silence the Ramat Gan supporters. Although Israel began the second period with more purpose, it was Croatia who struck again nine minutes after the restart. Srna curled in a cross for Eduardo and though his close-range header was repelled by Awat, the Brazilian-born forward bundled in the ball from a prostrate position.

Hat-trick complete
Israel were given hope when Yossi Benayoun pulled a goal back on 68 minutes following Adoram Keise's cutback from the by-line, but four minutes later Eduardo completed his hat-trick after controlling Marko Babić's left-wing cross to beat Awat once again. There was still time for Colautti to drive in his second of the night after Amit Ben Shushan had played him in, but Croatia held on to inflict Israel's first competitive qualifying defeat in 16 matches. They lead Group E with ten points from four games.