Israel went into the game with three wins from eight matches, but their hopes of finishing third in the group are all but over, barring a big win in North Macedonia tonight.
Israel got off to the worst possible start against Poland at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on Saturday night when Grzegorz Krychowiak put the visitors ahead after only four minutes. A corner ricocheted into his path and the Lokomotiv Moscow player smashed a half-volley into the roof of the net.
Poland, for whom star striker Robert Lewandowski started on the bench, doubled their lead nine minutes into the second half when Krzysztof Piątek fired past Ofir Marciano in the Israel goal from close range.
Munas Dabbur scored an 88th minute consolation but the damage had already been done.
ISRAEL: Ofir Marciano, Eli Dasa, Eytan Tibi, Dan Glazer, Eli Taha (sub: Dolev Haziza 42), Ariel Ben Harush (sub: Sun Menachem), Nir Bitton, Bibras Natcho (capt), Beram Kayal (sub: Ilay Elmkies 79), Eran Zahavi, Munas Dabbur.
SCORER: Dabbur 88
BOOKED: Bitton 53
POLAND: Wojciech Szczęsny, Krystian Bielik, Jan Bednarek,Grzegorz Krychowiak (sub: Dominik Furman 84), Arkadiusz Reca, Kamil Glik (capt), Tomasz Kędziora, Sebastian Szymański (sub: Robert Lewandowski 63), Piotr Zieliński, Przemysław Frankowski, Krzysztof Piątek (sub: Mateusz Klich 70).
SCORERS: Krychowiak 4, Piątek 54
BOOKED: Bielik 57
--------------
MATCH STATS
ISRAEL:
SHOTS: 9
ON TARGET: 3
CORNERS: 2
POSSESSION: 54 per cent
PASSES: 516
OFFSIDES: 5
FOULS: 12
CARDS: Yellow 1
--------------
POLAND
SHOTS: 20
ON TARGET: 9
CORNERS: 5
POSSESSION: 45 per cent
PASSES: 456
OFFSIDES: 1
FOULS: 8
CARDS: Yellow 1
--------------
STANDINGS:
1. Poland Pl. 9, W. 7, Pts. 22
2. Austria Pl. 9, W. 6, Pts. 19
3. Slovenia Pl. 9, W. 4, Pts. 14
4. North Macedonia Pl. 9, W. 3, Pts. 11
5. Israel Pl. 9, W. 3, Pts. 11
6. Latvia Pl. 9, W. 0, Pts. 0
