Italy's Graziano Pelle, right, and teammates celebrate their third against Israel in Haifa on Monday. AFPHaifa (Israel): Ten-man Italy earned a hard-fought 3-1 win away to Israel in their opening Group G World Cup qualifier on Monday after defender Giorgio Chiellini was sent off early in the second half.
The Italians took a two-goal lead with just over half an hour gone when Graziano Pele slotted home in the 14th minute and Antonio Candreva converted a penalty in the 31st.
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Israel got themselves back into the match in the 35th when forward Tal Ben Chaim lofted a ball over goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who was caught off his line, and the momentum shifted.
They received a further boost in the 55th when Chiellini was sent off for the first time in his international career after a second booking and the hosts pushed for an equalizer.
But Israel squandered a handful of chances and were dealt a final blow in the 83rd minute when Italy substitute Ciro Immobile powered past the defense and blasted home a low shot from the right of the area to secure all three points.
Wales talisman Gareth Bale set up the first goal and scored twice, including a late penalty, as the Euro 2016 semifinalists won 4-0 in their opening Group D World Cup qualifier.
The Welsh, who controlled the match in Cardiff, made the breakthrough seven minutes before half-time when Bale swung over a left-footed cross from the right and Sam Vokes headed home.
Joe Allen made it 2-0 in the 44th after a poor clearance from a corner fell to the midfielder on the edge of the box and he fired past three defenders for his first international goal.
Five minutes into the second half, Bale was quick to latch onto a poor back pass by Ion Jardan and raced into the box to neatly chip past goalkeeper Ilie Cebanu before scoring his 24th Wales goal from the spot with the last kick of the match.
The win put Wales top of the group on goal difference from Austria, who won 2-1 against hosts Georgia in the early kickoff. Ireland drew 2-2 away to Serbia in the other match in the group.
The results: Group D: Georgia lost to Austria 1-2; Serbia drew with Republic of Ireland 2-2; Wales bt Moldova 4-0.
Group G: Israel lost to Italy 1-3, Spain bt Liechtenstein 8-0.
Group I: Croatia drew with Turkey 1-1; Finland drew with Kosovo 1-1; Ukraine drew with Iceland 1-1.
(With agency inputs)
