The Israel National Team drew 2-2 against Romania in friendly action as Monas Dabbur scored a second half brace to help the blue-and-white comeback from a two goal first half deficit. Israel arrived back home after a 2-0 defeat to Germany earlier in the week and were without Eli Dasa after he had contracted COVID-19 and looked to put on a more offensive performance under interim coach Gadi Brumer who made some wholesale changes with his lineup that played a few days ago.

In attendance at the game were 300 Olim Hadashim, new immigrants from Ukraine who arrived in Israel thanks to the Jewish Agency’s emergency flights.

With the tragic terrorist attack that murdered 5 Israelis hanging over the start of the game, Romania came our and scored early via Alexandru Cicâldău as he turned the Israeli defense inside out in the 10th minute to take the lead. Denis Man added another marker less than a quarter hour later to double the advantage and send the visitors into the halftime break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Monas Dabbur pulled a goal back as he headed home a Gaby Kanichowsky corner kick in the 57th minute and then found the equalizer when he pounced on a Dolev Haziza through ball as time ticked down to end the game with a draw and plenty to ponder for the blue-and-white going forward.

“When you play attacking football sometimes you give up a goal,” Israel’s caretaker manager Gadi Brumer explained. “This was a friendly in which I saw some good things. We had a very good second half in my opinion. I feel good about Israeli soccer and there is a lot of potential. We have to work hard going forward.”

Israel captain Bibras Nacho also spoke about the draw, “We had many chances in the box but we couldn’t make the final pass. We ended 2-2 which is something positive on a day like this if we can even say that it’s positive.”

In other Israel National Team action, Alon Hazan’s Under-21 team fell to Germany 1-0 in 2023 European Championship qualifying play and will most probably need to win a playoff matchup in order to advance to the tournament next summer as they currently sit in second place behind the Germans in group play.

The Under-19 squad downed Scotland 1-0 on an 87th minute goal to advance to the 2022 European Championships in Slovakia and will be one of 7 teams that will take part in the prestigious tournament.