Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine continued their build-up with a hard fought 3-2 win over Israel in Petach Tikva.
Co-hosts seal away success
Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine continued their build-up with a hard fought 3-2 win over Israel in Petach Tikva.
Oleg Gusev and Yevhen Konoplyanka had given the visitors a two-goal advantage at the break, but Israel battled back with Tomer Hemed reducing the deficit.
Andriy Yarmolenko's goal sealed the win, although Ben Sahar's goal made for a nervous finish for Ukraine - but they held on for the win as Eti Gutman suffered defeat in his first game in charge of Israel.
A scrappy opening to the match saw neither side dominate, but then Rami Gershon conceded a penalty and Gusev made no mistake from 12-yards.
Ukraine them dominated for the remainder of the half and they doubled their lead just before the break when Konoplyanka capitalised on a mistake by Yuval Shpungin.
It should of been 3-0 on the stroke of half-time, but Andriy Voronin failed to convert after an error from Dedi Ben-Dayan.
Israel improved in the second period and they won a penalty of their own with Vitaliy Mandzuk handling the ball and Hemed stepped up to convert.
Ukraine restored their two-goal advantage on the hour when Yarmolenko latched on to Olexander Aliev's through ball and finished well.
Sahar combined with Maor Melikson to set up a nervous finish for Ukraine, but they held on.
