Israel set up Germany decider

Israel will face Germany in Duisburg on Tuesday for the right to claim Group 9 supremacy after comfortably dispatching Luxembourg.

Germany test
The visitors were three goals up by half-time in Esch-sur-Alzette courtesy of a penalty by Lior Rafaelov and his second of the evening soon after Yuval Avidor had doubled Israel's lead. Further strikes from Lior Jan and Tim Cahalon followed in the last 20 minutes to leave Israel needing a draw by more than 2-2 or a win next week, to pip Germany to first place having drawn with their rivals by that scoreline in their first meeting last October.

Early penalty
Israel were in control from the outset and went ahead when Rafaelov converted a 14th-minute spot-kick. Just past the half-hour, Avidor extended their advantage and three minutes before the break they were further in front thanks to Rafaelov's second. With Tuesday's decider looming, Israel eased off after the break yet still managed to find the net twice more. Etey Shechter would have made it four but for Luxembourg goalkeeper Fabio Castellani; nine minutes later, Israel did strike again when Jan got on the end of a corner 20 minutes from time. Cahalon rounded off the scoring with a minute remaining.