Beram Kayal and Jiri Skalak were among Albion's players in action.
A number of Brighton & Hove Albion players have been away representing their countries over the past three days, as the first round of 2018 World Cup qualifying fixtures took place.Here is a round-up of the Albion players who were in action.
*
BERAM KAYAL AND TOMER HEMED
Beram Kayal and Tomer Hemed both played the full 90 minutes in Israel’s 3-1 defeat to Italy at the Haifa International Stadium on Monday.
Hemed provided the assist for Tal Ben Haim’s superb lofted finish in the first half, but this proved to be merely a consolation, as goals from Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva and Ciro Immobile secured Italy a hard-fought victory.
The Italians also played the majority of the second half with ten men, after Giorgio Chiellini was sent off for a second bookable offence.
*
JIRI SKALAK
Albion’s winger played the first half of the Czech Republic’s 3-0 victory over Armenia in Boleslav on Wednesday.
Ladislav Krejci broke the deadlock after just four minutes, before Vaclav Kadlec’s 30th-minute strike and Jan Kopic’s goal in the 87th minute gave Pavel Vrba’s side a comfortable victory.
Skalak then came head -to -head with club team-mate Oliver Norwood, as the Czech Republic were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland in Prague on Sunday.
The Czechs were dominant on the night after having 65% of possession and 17 shots on goal, but could only muster a point in their first World Cup qualifier.
Skalak played 77 minutes of the game, before being replaced by Jan Kopic.
LATEST NEWS FROM*SEAGULLS.CO.UK*
NIKI MAENPAA - FINLAND
*
Goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa was an unused substitute in both of Finland’s games, against Germany last Wednesday and Kosovo on Monday.
*
Max Meyer’s strike and Paulus Arajuuri’s own goal gave the world champions Germany a 2-0 victory in a friendly on Wednesday, in what was Bastian Schweinsteiger’s 121st and final match for Germany.Finland were then held to a 1-1 draw by Kosovo, as Paulus Arajuuri’s opener was cancelled out by Valon Berisha’s penalty.
OLIVER NORWOOD – NORTHERN IRELAND
As previously mentioned, Norwood came head-to-head with team-mate Skalak in a 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic on Sunday.
It was the 25-year-old’s 39th cap for his country, as Michael O’Neill’s side left Prague with a hard-earned point in their quest to qualify for a first World Cup finals since 1986.
JONAH AYUNGA – KENYA
Jonah Ayunga received his first call-up to the Kenya squad for their African Cup of Nations Qualifier away at Zambia.
The Albion under-23 striker missed out on a place in the final 18-man squad for the match, as the two countries shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Ayub Timbe gave the Harambee Stars the lead in the 63rd minute, before Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba earned the hosts a point.
Original article
A number of Brighton & Hove Albion players have been away representing their countries over the past three days, as the first round of 2018 World Cup qualifying fixtures took place.Here is a round-up of the Albion players who were in action.
*
BERAM KAYAL AND TOMER HEMED
Beram Kayal and Tomer Hemed both played the full 90 minutes in Israel’s 3-1 defeat to Italy at the Haifa International Stadium on Monday.
Hemed provided the assist for Tal Ben Haim’s superb lofted finish in the first half, but this proved to be merely a consolation, as goals from Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva and Ciro Immobile secured Italy a hard-fought victory.
The Italians also played the majority of the second half with ten men, after Giorgio Chiellini was sent off for a second bookable offence.
*
JIRI SKALAK
Albion’s winger played the first half of the Czech Republic’s 3-0 victory over Armenia in Boleslav on Wednesday.
Ladislav Krejci broke the deadlock after just four minutes, before Vaclav Kadlec’s 30th-minute strike and Jan Kopic’s goal in the 87th minute gave Pavel Vrba’s side a comfortable victory.
Skalak then came head -to -head with club team-mate Oliver Norwood, as the Czech Republic were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland in Prague on Sunday.
The Czechs were dominant on the night after having 65% of possession and 17 shots on goal, but could only muster a point in their first World Cup qualifier.
Skalak played 77 minutes of the game, before being replaced by Jan Kopic.
LATEST NEWS FROM*SEAGULLS.CO.UK*
- REPORT: NEWCASTLE 2 ALBION 0
- MARCH PLEASED WITH COMEBACK
- BARBER ON THE TRANSFER WINDOW
- DUFFY DEAL DONE
- TRANSFER ROUND-UP
*
Goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa was an unused substitute in both of Finland’s games, against Germany last Wednesday and Kosovo on Monday.
*
Max Meyer’s strike and Paulus Arajuuri’s own goal gave the world champions Germany a 2-0 victory in a friendly on Wednesday, in what was Bastian Schweinsteiger’s 121st and final match for Germany.Finland were then held to a 1-1 draw by Kosovo, as Paulus Arajuuri’s opener was cancelled out by Valon Berisha’s penalty.
OLIVER NORWOOD – NORTHERN IRELAND
As previously mentioned, Norwood came head-to-head with team-mate Skalak in a 0-0 draw with the Czech Republic on Sunday.
It was the 25-year-old’s 39th cap for his country, as Michael O’Neill’s side left Prague with a hard-earned point in their quest to qualify for a first World Cup finals since 1986.
JONAH AYUNGA – KENYA
Jonah Ayunga received his first call-up to the Kenya squad for their African Cup of Nations Qualifier away at Zambia.
The Albion under-23 striker missed out on a place in the final 18-man squad for the match, as the two countries shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Ayub Timbe gave the Harambee Stars the lead in the 63rd minute, before Zambia captain Rainford Kalaba earned the hosts a point.
Original article