Despite a blunder by Feyenoord goalkeeper Marciano, Israel took a point on Thursday in the Nations League match with Iceland. Thanks to a late Israeli equalizer, Marciano’s blunder did not cost the full loot: 2-2. In the match between Serbia and Norway (0-1) Feyenoord defender Marcus Pedersen distinguished himself by providing an assist for the only goal.
The 32-year-old Marciano made a mistake in the game with Iceland with a 1-0 lead just before half-time. The goalkeeper let a high cross slip from his hands, after which it was a breeze for Thorir Johann Helgason to shoot in: 1-1.
Shortly after the break Marciano also had no answer to a hard shot by Arnor Sigurdsson. It therefore seemed for a long time that Israel would not have a point left in the first Nations League game, until Shon Weissman scored the equalizer six minutes before time: 2-2.
With Israel, Vitesse player Eli Dasa participated the entire match. The defender, who will leave Arnhem this summer, was missing from Vitesse’s last matches because of his own wedding. Dasa had the idea that his wedding would take place between the play-offs and the international matches, but that turned out not to be the case.
Due to the draw, Israel and Iceland share the lead in group 2 of division B after one match. Both countries are placed with Albania and Russia, but the Russian team has been banned from participating in European matches due to the invasion of Ukraine.
For users of the app, tap the tweet above to view Ofir Marciano’s error.
Haaland accurate for winning Norway
At Serbia-Norway, the Feyenoord players did have a game to look back on with pleasure. Frederik Aursnes saw teammate Pedersen provide the assist for a goal by Erling Haaland after more than half an hour. The striker was able to easily shoot in the low cross of the Feyenoord defender.
In the remainder of the game, Serbia regularly appeared dangerously in front of goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, but Ajax captain Dusan Tadic did not score. The other game in this group ended in Sweden’s 0-2 victory over Slovenia.
In group 2 of the C division, Greece started with a 0-1 victory over Northern Ireland. Pantelis Hatzidiakos (AZ), Dimitrios Limnios (FC Twente), Konstantinos Tsimikas (ex-Willem II), Giorgos Giakoumakis (ex-VVV) all had a basic place. In the same group, Kosovo won 0-2 against Cyprus.
Georgia convincingly settled 4-0 in group 4 of the C-division with Gibraltar, which promoted a division last season. The match between Bulgaria and North Macedonia had no winner in the same group (1-1).
In the D division, Estonia recorded a 2-0 victory over San Marino. It was the only game in the lowest division, which, due to changes at UEFA, only consists of seven countries this edition. Furthermore, only Malta is in the group with Estonia and San Marino.
For users of the app: tap the tweet above to view Marcus Pedersen’s assist.