Israel stun the football world with bronze at Argentina 2023

Israel 3-1 Korea Republic: Binyamin (19), Lee Seungwon, pen (24), Senior (76), Khalaili (85) | Play-off for third place | FIFA U-20 World Cup Argentina 2023 played at La Plata Stadium on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 2:30 PM.

~~~

Israel capped off a remarkable debut FIFA U-20 World Cup by defeating Korea Republic to finish in third place.

Two superb goals put an exclamation mark on an unforgettable debut tournament for Israel at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

A goal-of-the-tournament contender from Ran Binyamin gave Israel the lead in La Plata.

Hamza Shibli picked out Binyamin at the back post with a lofted cross and the Hapoel Tel Aviv midfielder scissor-kicked a shot straight out of the air into the bottom corner.

Korea Republic needed just five minutes to bounce back.

After Ilay Feingold received a yellow card for a shove in the back of Bae Junho, the reliable captain Lee Seungwon converted the resulting penalty, stroking the ball calmly down the middle past Ofek Melika.

Israel regained the lead late on with a similar, albeit slightly less spectacular, goal as the opener.

Anan Khalali found Omer Senior racing in at the back post and the substitute volleyed his shot back across goal in what proved to be the winner.

Khalali put the icing on the cake with a poked, close-range finish from a corner kick five minutes from time.

Israel are the first debutants to finish third at a U-20 World Cup since Germany DR in 1987. Read more.

— 

©Copyright 2023 News Band

(If you would like to receive CURRENT NEWS updates from News Band on WhatsApp, or Telegram, or wish to send eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to elstimmy@gmail.com and we will respond instantly. Follow us on twitter @News Band; like our Facebook page: News Band.)

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook