Israel's under-21s on Saturday clinched a semi-final spot in the soccer European Championship, after beating Georgia in dramatic fashion in the penalty shootout.
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Georgia, the host of the tournament, could not capitalize on their home advantage in a match held in the capital of Tbilisi. Israeli leaders to congratulate the players included Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.
The dramatic quarterfinal saw both teams grinding out a goalless stalemate after extra time. The Israelis went on to a 4-3 penalty kick victory, with goalkeeper Daniel Peretz emerging as the hero with a crucial stop from Giorgi Gagua. If England or France advance to the semifinals, this will automatically qualify the Israeli team for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
All four Israeli penalty-takers found the bottom left-hand corner of the net. Israel will face the winner of the quarterfinal between England and Portugal in Kutaisi, Georgia, on Sunday.
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This article was first published by i24NEWS.
