The Israel National Team blanked Belgium 1-0 as Yarden Shua’s late goal helped end the blue-and-white’s Nations League campaign on a high note. In a home game that was played in Hungary due to the security situation in the Holy Land, Head Coach Ran Ben Shimon’s side recorded one of the biggest wins in its history since joining UEFA in the early 1990’s.

After having drawn with France in Paris 0-0 late last week to collect the first point of League A’s group stage, Israel finally picked up their first win to finish Group 2 with 4 points in fourth place just behind Belgium as France took first place and Italy captured second. Despite the victory, Israel will be relegated to League B but will be seeded in the third group for World Cup Qualifying which will take place in December.

Israel controlled the pace of play early on as each side had chances to break game open. However, it was only in the 85th minute that the blue-and-white finally broke through when a poor Belgium pass in the box went straight to Dia Saba who was knocked off the ball by Sambi Lonkonga but Shua jumped all over the loose ball and slammed it past keeper Koen Carteels to take the lead, the win and the 3-points.

“This was a great win but it was the journey we took especially after the game we had played in France,” Head Coach Ra Ben Shimon said. “We have an exceptional national team. Things are working out because we have some excellent players who understand the game plan and players in attacking positions played phenomenal defense. Whether it was Oscar Gloukh or Manor Solomon they were just fantastic. I am so proud of the guys.”

“We are a national team that has a path laid out for us and will continue to keep working. These were the greatest three days for me as a head coach and I have such an incredible staff working with me. But our real heroes are the ones who are battling for our country, we have to remember what type of country we are and those who have scarified it all. We have to keep what we did in proportion.”

The goal scorer Yarden Shua spoke about his game winning marker,”It’s an incredible feeling with everyone just so happy and celebrating a terrific win. We will continue to work hard and progress.I am so happy that I was given a chance to be part of this team which has so much talent and it’s such a competitive group of guys. We will enjoy this win.”

Manor Solomon also shared his feelings about the win, “This was great taking 4 points from two of the best teams in the world. We came in with such confidence after we had drawn in Paris and we prepared really well to meet our goals which we did. I worked hard on defense and I told the coach I would do anything for us to win and that’s what we did. Now we have a few moths off until World Cup Qualifying begins.”