London, 9 September 2025 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - Italy held off a late recovery from Israel to snatch a dramatic 5-4 win with a stoppage-time goal from Sandro Tonali in their World Cup qualifier in Hungary.

Israel – who had won three of their four Group I fixtures – took an early lead at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen through an own goal from Manuel Locatelli.

Fiorentina forward Moise Kean equalized just before half-time only for Dor Peretz to restore Israel's advantage.

Kean levelled things up again and Matteo Politano then put Italy back in front on the hour before a late fourth from substitute Giacomo Raspadori looked to have settled matters.

Israel produced a remarkable finish – getting back on level terms following an own goal from Alessandro Bastoni and then Dor Peretz appeared to have salvaged a point when he made it 4-4 in the 90th minute.

Italy, though, snatched a second victory for new boss Gennaro Gattuso when Tonali's low effort found its way through a crowded penalty area and into the far corner.

Israel had the ball in the net after just four minutes following a corner.

The referee, however, swiftly ruled the effort out for a foul on goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as he jumped with Stav Lemkin, who then had to go off with an injury.

Israel did take the lead in the 16th minute when Italy midfielder Locatelli turned a cross through the six-yard box from Dan Biton into his own net.

The Azzurri – who had lost their qualifier to Norway 3-0 in June, which prompted the departure of former boss Luciano Spalletti – slowly regrouped.

First, Locatelli's acrobatic volley from a knockdown in the Israel penalty area clipped the top of the crossbar before Kean fired wide from close range.

Fiorentina forward Kean, soon made amends five minutes before the break, drilling in a low strike from the edge of the box.

Israel got themselves back in front in the 52nd minute when Dor Peretz fired the ball past Donnarumma after a surging run down the left by Manor Solomon.

Italy, though, were level again just two minutes later when Kean fired in from the edge of the box after another perfectly-weighted knockdown by Al-Qadsiah frontman Mateo Retegui.

Gattuso's men then completed the turnaround just before the hour when Retegui's deft flick from a long throw into the right side of the Israel box was slid home by Politano.

Israel pressed for an equaliser as Biton sent a free header off target at the back post before Donnarumma clawed away a deflected cross from Solomon and Locatelli cleared Tai Baribo's effort off the line.

Italy then swept in a fourth with nine minutes left when Raspadori, who had just come on, finished off a fine passing move.

Israel started their comeback when Roy Revivo's cross deflected in off Bastoni and Dor Peretz thought he had secured a hard-earned point only for Newcastle winger Tonali to roll a late winner.

Photo: EPA