There goes the final whistle - Italy have the three points!
90' +1
We are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of this game.
90'
R. Montolivo enters the game and replaces M. Verratti.
Verratti is replaced by Riccardo Montolivo in the final change of the match.
89'
Bernardeschi looks to make an immediate impact as he uses his fresh legs to gallop into the heart of the Israel defence. He tries his luck from the edge of the area, but pulls the ball wide of the target.
87'
F. Bernardeschi enters the game and replaces A. Candreva.
Candreva is given a breather by Ventura, who sends on Federico Bernardeschi for his 11th international cap.
86'
C. Immobile gets yellow.
DIVE! Immobile goes down in the box hoping for a penalty, but the referee is unimpressed and shows the goalscorer a yellow card for simulation.
CHEEKY! Ben Chaim has a sight on goal inside the Israeli box and opts for an audacious chip over Buffon from a tight angle. However, there is not quite enough pace on the effort and the goalkeeper gathers.
85'
Israel were always going to struggle today having never won against Italy who, in turn, have not lost a competitive home match since 1999. The defeat against Denmark came just months after Gianluigi Donnarumma was born!
83'
While Italy are remaining in contention for a place in the FIFA World Cup Finals, Israel's faint hopes of qualifying for the first time since 1970 are set to end unless they can find two goals in quick succession.
80'
We are into the final 10 minutes at the Mapei Stadium and, while it has not been the most convincing performance, it looks set to be another three points for the Italians. They will maintain the pressure on Group G leaders Spain, who are currently 7-0 to the good against Liechtenstein and counting.
77'
D. Einbinder enters the game and replaces A. Cohen.
Israel's final change of the match sees Dan Einbinder come on in place of Cohen.
GOOD SAVE! Candreva is at the central point of creativity for the Italians once again. He shows great awareness to pick out Belotti on the edge of the box, but the striker is denied by a good save from Harush on this occasion.
Minute
Description
74'
Belotti is so powerful in the air and a terrific outlet for any team he plays in. The Torino striker climbs high to meet an Italian corner, but is just unable to direct the ball towards the target.
72'
Benayoun has enjoyed an impressive career representing four clubs in the English Premier League in West Ham United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal. He is still going strong at the age of 37 - playing for Beitar Jerusalem in his homeland.
69'
Y. Benayoun enters the game and replaces I. Shechter.
History is made as Shechter goes off to be replaced by Yossi Benayoun, who becomes the first Israeli to win 100 international caps.
68'
GREAT SAVE! Candreva is involved again with another delicious cross that lands perfectly on the head of Belotti, whose powerful downward header is somehow kept out by magnificent reactions from Harush.
67'
Candreva wants a penalty after his cross clearly strikes the arm of Davidzada. However, it was from the point-blank range and there was no way the left-back could move in time, so the referee was spot on there.
65'
The visitors look to Italy on the counter as they break with pace from a corner with Ben Chaim leading the charge. He gets away from Barzagli but Zappacosta is there to make a vital interception.
62'
T. Ben Haim enters the game and replaces M. Melikson.
Israel make their first change with Melikson going off to be replaced by Tal Ben Chaim.
59'
Italy asking questions down the opposite flank now with Darmian getting forward from left-back and delivering a decent ball into the box. However, nobody is there for the hosts and Israel clear.
56'
Well, that has certainly settled the hosts down. The Azzurri will have been feeling the pressure up until that point, but Immobile's seventh international goal could well be the launchpad from which they can build.
53'
C. Immobile has scored a goal for Italy! Assist by A. Candreva.
Full marks to Candreva, whose ball was an absolute dream for Immobile to attack.
BREAKTHROUGH FOR ITALY!!! And a sigh of relief around the Mapei Stadium! Candreva gets down the right wing and delivers an inch-perfect ball into the box, where Immobile is well-positioned to head home the opening goal of the night. Italy 1-0 Israel!
52'
Italy are slowly turning up the pressure levels and force their third corner of the second half already, as Davidzada puts the ball behind.
49'
D. Zappacosta enters the game and replaces A. Conti.
BETTER PLAY! Candreva shows clever feet before embarking on a dangerous run into the heart of the Israel defence. He feeds the ball to Insigne, whose shot from a tight angle is diverted behind by Harush.
A first change of the match sees Ventura withdraw Conti in favour of new Chelsea signing Davide Zappacosta.
47'
CHANCE! Italy make a purposeful start to this second half and should have broken the deadlock. Just seconds after De Rossi's volley is well-blocked by Ben Haim, Immobile heads a glorious chance wide of the target from less than six yards out.
46'
KICK-OFF! The referee blows his whistle and Italy get the ball rolling once more.
45' +2
And that's all for the first half!
45' +1
Keltjens misjudges a diagonal ball into the box and Insigne has a clear run at goal. Nevertheless, Harush shows smart reflexes to deny the Napoli winger.
45'
We are going to have just a single minute of additional time at the end of this first half.
43'
OFFSIDE! From the resulting corner, an unmarked Cohen smashes the ball past Buffon and into the net. However, Israel's joy is cut short by the offside flag and replays confirm it was the right decision.
42'
GREAT SAVE! Superb reflexes by Buffon! Shechter cleverly cuts in from the right wing and plays the ball to the edge of the area for Cohen, whose first-time effort is brilliantly beaten away by the 39-year-old goalkeeper.
40'
TIMELY INTERVENTION! Verratti neatly finds some space and aims to release the run of Candreva on the right. However, Ben Haim reads the danger well and is able to make a very well-timed intervention before clearing to safety.
37'
A. Cohen gets yellow.
Verratti receives the first yellow card of the game and will miss Italy's next game as a result.
And that is quickly followed by the seond, as Cohen joins him in the book.
35'
Jeers ring around the Mapei Stadium as the hosts remain unable to break down their opponents going into the final 10 minutes of the first half. Ventura shall be eager to get his players in and give them a good talking-to at the break.
32'
Of course, it is not the first time during this international break that one of the world's leading nations has struggled against the underdog. You only have to look at France's 0-0 draw with Luxembourg on Sunday and Italy will be desperate to avoid the same scenario happening to them here.
29'
Italy force a fifth corner of the game already but, once again, they are unable to find through the well-organised Israel defence.
26'
OFFSIDE! Israel look to hit Italy on the counter with Davidzada finding an unmarked Shechter in the box. He is unable to beat Buffon but it would not have counted anyway, as the offside flag had already been raised.
24'
GREAT TACKLE! Kabha causes problems as he embarks on a strong and lengthy run from the halfway line. He reaches the penalty area but is denied by a very well-timed sliding challenge by Conti. A false move there would have meant a spot-kick and possibly a red card!
22'
Buffon is winning his 171st Italy cap today. Only four players have made more international appearances - 184 is the target set by Egypt's Ahmed Hassan.
20'
OUCH! There is a slight break in play here as Buffon takes a moment to gather himself after taking a knee to the head from Astori. The centre-half was pushed into his goalkeeper by Shechter, but the veteran skipper is perfectly fine to continue.
18'
It is fair to say that the home crowd are getting slightly restless with the Italians struggling to find the breakthrough in what is the first international fixture to be played at the Mapei Stadium.
15'
We are still goalless after the opening quarter of an hour at the home of Sassuolo. Israel will be more than happy to restrict Italy to long shots like that one from De Rossi.
12'
Back on the pitch, De Rossi decides to try his luck with an ambitious attempt from 35 yards. However, his effort is always rising and causing more danger to the spectators rather than the goalkeeper.
10'
Of course, Israel's preparations for this game have been dominated by the story of captain Zahavi, who was given a one-year international ban after ripping off his armband following the 1-0 defeat by Macedonia at the weekend, only to subsequently announce his retirement. However, getting a positive result here would certainly provide a welcome distraction!
7'
The Azzurri do have a good record against Israel, having never lost in the four previous meetings between the nations - winning three and drawing once. Ironically, the only time they failed to win was on the Israelis' only FIFA World Cup Finals appearance in 1970.
4'
That was a bright start by the Italians, who are desperate to bounce back from the commanding 3-0 defeat by Spain at the weekend. You feel they have to win here just to keep up with the Spaniards in Group G.
2'
CHANCE! What a start that could have been! Italy go straight onto the attack with Insigne finding Darmian on the overlap down the left. The Manchester United left-back squares the ball to the edge of the area, where Belotti's first-time effort goes just wide of the target.
1'
KICK-OFF! France's Benoit Bastien is our referee today! He blows his whistle and Israel get the match underway.
Both nations are aiming to bounce back after suffering defeats in Group G on Saturday. Italy must win to stay hot on the heels of leaders Spain, who play Liechtenstein today, while anything other than a victory will end Israel's faint hopes of qualifying for the Finals, where they have not appeared since 1970.
Hello everyone and welcome to our LIVE text coverage of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Today, we're at the Mapei Stadium - home to Serie A side Sassuolo - as Italy welcome Israel in the UEFA section. It's good to have your company!
Gian Piero Ventura has made two changes to the Italian XI that started the 3-0 defeat by Spain on Saturday - both of which come in defence. AC Milan's Andrea Conti makes his international debut at right-back as Davide Astori replaces Leonardo Bonucci to partner Andrea Barzagli in the heart of the back for. There is also plenty of attacking options on the bench in the shape of Stephan El Shaarawy, Manolo Gabbiadini and Eder.
Meanwhile, Elisha Levy makes five alterations as he looks to provide a first-ever Israeli win over Italy. Ariel Harush returns in goal with David Keltjens coming in at left-back, while Bibras Natcho and Lior Refaelov are back in a five-man midfield behind lone striker Itay Shechter. Tal Ben Haim captains the side following the infamous incident that saw Eran Zahavi lose the armband following the Macedonia defeat on Saturday and subsequently quit international football. Yossi Benayoun could earn his 100th cap from the bench.
ISRAEL (4-5-1): Harush; Davidzada, Tzedek, Ben Haim (c), Keltjens; Melikson, Cohen, Natcho, Kabha, Refaelov; Shechter.
ISRAEL SUBS: Kleyman, Elhamed, Einbinder, Ohana, Danino, Solomon, Ben Chaim, Benayoun, Glazer.
HERE THEY COME! The teams are out and observing the national anthems. Kick-off is just moments away at the Mapei Stadium...
HALF-TIME: ITALY 0-0 ISRAEL
The teams are back out and the second half is imminent...
Italy are being held by Israel, who will be delighted that the match remains goalless at half-time. Andrea Belotti and Lorenzo Insigne had the best chances of the first period, but were unable to capitalise and Ventura shall be eyeing a vast improvement after the break.
FULL-TIME: ITALY 1-0 ISRAEL
Far from convincing but a win is a win for Italy, who keep up the pressure on Spain in Group G thanks to Ciro Immobile's strike early in the second half. That's all from the Mapei Stadium, thank you for following our LIVE text coverage - hope you've enjoyed it. Until next time, see you soon!
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