FRIENDLY MATCH
HUNGARY 1 ISRAEL 1

A late strike from substitute Tomer Hemed earned Israel a hard fought 1-1 draw in an international friendly against Hungary in Budapest.

Israel boss Eli Guttman put out a strong team in the last match before the 2014 World Cup qualifiers get under way next month, although they had to do without captain Yossi Benayoun who jetted back to Israel to be with his wife, Miri, for the pending arrival of their fourth child.

Under Guttman, Israel have lost friendlies against the Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Germany and it looked as though they were heading for another defeat when Balazs Dzsudzsak put the hosts in front six minutes after the interval.

Having already squandered a chance to level the scores, Hemed, who had replaced Swansea new boy Etay Shechter, latched on to a rebound after Dan Mori’s header was parried by Hungary ‘keeper Adam Bogdan.

Israel starts it 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan on September 7.