Israel have sealed a 2-1 win over FYR Macedonia in their EURO 2008 Group E qualifier in Skopje, Macedonia on Saturday, to maintain third-place in Group E ahead of England, who still lie in fourth-place and under threat of failing to qualify for the tournament.

Beitar Jerusalem striker Barak Yitzhaki scored Israel’s opener in the 10th minute, heading in a cross from Idan Tal on the right wing to give the visitors the lead.

Three minutes later, Debreceni VSC striker Aco Stojkov equalized with a left-foot shot on a pass by Goran Pandev.

But it was all over in the first-half when, in the 43rd-minute, Maccabi Haifa forward Roberto Colautti scored with a header, beating the Macedonian goalkeeper Jane Nikoloski to seal a 2-1 win over FYR Macedonia.

The win sees Israel maintain their third place in Group E, with 14 points from seven matches in Group E, behind Russia in second place, also on 14 points but with only six games played, with Croatia leading Group E on 16 points, with six games played.

Macedonia have seven points from their seven matches and now look certain to fail in qualification for the EURO 2008 tournament in Austria/Switzerland.

Macedonia Team: Jane Nikoloski, Nikolce Noveski, Tome Pacovski, Petar Milosevski, Robert Petrov, Vlade Lazarevski (Vlatko Grozdanovski, 46), Igor Mitreski, Aleksandar Vasoski, Velice Sumulikoski, Darko Tasevski, Ilco Naumoski (Stevica Ristic, 46), Goran Pandev (Artim Polozani, 55), Aco Stojkov.

Israel Team: Dudu Aouate, Yuval Shpungin, Yoav Ziv, Banado Ariel, Valeed Badeer, Idan Tal, Felix Pini Balalli (Ben Sahar, 60), Gal Alberman, Damian Roberto Colautti (Omer Golan, 82), Barak Yitzhaki (Michael Zandberg, 76), Dekel Kinan.

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