Croatia defeat Israel in thriller

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TEL AVIV, Israel -- Croatia's Brazilian-born striker Eduardo Da Silva hit a hat-trick and Darjo Srna added a penalty as the visitors scored a dramatic 4-3 win over Israel to go top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group E on Wednesday.

The Croats dominated for most of the match and ended Israel's seven-year unbeaten run in Tel Aviv after surviving an early scare. The victory also ended Israel's 13-match unbeaten run in Euro and World Cup qualifiers.

Israel took the lead after seven minutes when Roberto Colautti pounced on a soft backpass to keeper Vedran Runje to give the Israeli striker the easiest of tap-ins.

Croatia grew in strength and equalised from the penalty spot in the 35th minute when Israel goalkeeper Dudu Aouate fouled Da Silva.

The Israeil was lucky not to get sent off by referee Eduardo Iturralde of Spain as he was the last man in front of goal.

Da Silva wasted little time in getting his own back and countered with a quick strike four minutes later for the visitors to take the lead. He added his second and Croatia's third in the 54th minute just when it looked as if Israel might get back into the match.

Yossi Benayoun reduced the arrears with a goal in the 68th minute but again Da Silva would not be denied and made it 4-2 in the 72nd minute.

Colautti rekindled Israeli hopes towards the end when he scored in the 88th minute, but it was too little too late for the home side.

Croatia top Group E with 10 points from four matches, followed by Russia, who won 2-0 in Macedonia on Wednesday, on eight points.

England, Macedonia and Israel all have seven points. Estonia and Andorra have yet to pick up any points.

Croatia coach Slaven Bilic was full of praise for Da Silva. "He's a top class player and his biggest quality is that he doesn't have to score a goal to play well, he's a team player," Bilic said.

The Croatian coach said his team was well placed to continue to dominate the group. "We are in a good position ... we are not thinking about winning the group, but we want to qualify and we want to be in the top two," he added.

"All we are thinking about now is our next match against Macedonia. This is the most difficult group we have ever played in and it will be tight to the end."

Israel coach Dror Kashtan said that despite the loss and disappointment, his players need not feel disappointed after having scored three goals against a side that had previously not conceded any in the group.

"The fact that we managed to score three goals against them shows that we have a worthy team ... The challenge ahead is still a long one and I hope that (the group) will remain close to the end," he said.

Russia victorious

Meanwhile, in Skopje, two first-half goals proved enough for Russia to defeat Macedonia and revive their hopes of reaching the finals.

Vladimir Bystrov opened the scoring in the 18th minute, driving the ball into the roof of the net after a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov cross from the left. Andrei Arshavin made it 2-0 with a great solo effort 15 minutes later.

The game was briefly interrupted when Macedonian riot police clashed with Russian fans in the stands following Arshavin's goal. Some 300 Russians travelled to Skopje for the match.

Arshavin could have added a third midway through the second half but waited too long to shoot.

Macedonia, missing suspended strikers Goran Pandev and Ilco Naumoski, who both scored in a 3-0 victory over Andorra last month, rarely threatened keeper Igor Akinfeyev.

Goran Maznov had the best chance for the home side, just going wide with a powerful header following a fine cross by Robert Petrov shortly after the interval.

The Russians, however, comfortably held on for victory to remain unbeaten under their Dutch coach Guus Hiddink.

"It was by far our best performance since I became Russia coach," said the Dutchman, who was appointed to the job after guiding Australia at this year's World Cup finals.

"We knew Macedonia would be tough to beat but in the first half we were attacking well while in the second half it was our defence who played well."

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