Kosovo 0-0 Israel: Hodža sent off as Kamberi hits the bar in Pristina

Kosovo and Israel drew 0-0 in UEFA Nations League League B Group 3 at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina on Saturday, their second goalless meeting in six weeks. Kosovo played the final stages with ten men after Veldin Hodža was sent off for a second yellow card, and UEFA's official match centre recorded a crowd of 12,426.

Match facts

• Result: Kosovo 0-0 Israel
• Competition: UEFA Nations League, League B, Group 3, matchday 5
• Venue: Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina (attendance 12,426)
• Sent off: Veldin Hodža (Kosovo), second yellow card, 67'
• Yellow cards: Hodža 20' (Kosovo); Eli Dasa 27', Ilay Feingold 63', Omri Gandelman 74', Raz Shlomo 90+2' (Israel)
• Referee: Ivan Kružliak (Slovakia); VAR: Andrew Dallas (Scotland)
• Head coaches: Franco Foda (Kosovo), Ran Ben Simon (Israel)

How the match unfolded

Kosovo, coached by former Austria boss Franco Foda, had the better of the first half. The Kosovan daily Koha reported an early chance for Kreshnik Hajrizi and a 17th-minute long-range shot from Milot Rashica that Israel goalkeeper Daniel Peretz saved, while Oscar Gloukh tested Amir Saipi with Israel's first effort on target in the 25th minute.

The best chance of the game came four minutes before half-time. Lindrit Kamberi met a Hodža cross with a header that struck the crossbar, a moment reported by both Koha and the Austrian news agency APA.

Israel made a double change in the 62nd minute, sending on Feingold and Gandelman for Dasa and Idan Toclomiti. The game turned soon after. Hodža, booked in the 20th minute, received a second yellow card from Slovak referee Kružliak and was dismissed in the 67th minute.

Foda responded by bringing on Fisnik Asllani for captain Vedat Muriqi and Baton Zabergja for Rashica. Koha reported that Edon Zhegrova shot just wide at the near post in the 73rd minute before he made way for Dion Kacuri. Israel, who also introduced Dor Turgeman and Yarden Shua, could not make the extra man count. Sky Sports' match statistics credited Kosovo with 16 shots to Israel's six, with three on target for each side.

What does the result mean?

The point takes Kosovo to six points from five games, two behind group leaders Austria, who have a game in hand and face the Republic of Ireland later on Saturday. Israel have three points and are still without a win in the group after three draws and two defeats, according to UEFA's official standings. The first meeting between the sides also finished 0-0, in Debrecen on 1 October.

Group B3 ends on Tuesday 17 November, when Kosovo visit the Republic of Ireland in Dublin and Israel play Austria in Debrecen. Elsewhere in the Nations League this window, Scotland beat North Macedonia 2-1 at Hampden and the Netherlands thrashed Greece 7-0.