Substitute Tal Ben Haim scored the only goal as resurgent Israel saw off Georgia in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Tel Aviv.

The Maccabi Petah Tikva attacker had been on the pitch only six minutes when he

settled matters with a low strike from inside the box.

The win, Israel's second in four days, saw them leapfrog their opponents into

third in the Group F table, one point behind leaders Greece, albeit having

played a game more.

Maor Buzaglo had an early effort blocked by Genoa defender Kakha Kaladze,

before Lior Rafaelov headed a cross from Portsmouth Tal Ben Haim's cross side.

Buzaglo should have done better from 12 yards but his weak shot was comfortably

caught by Georgia goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili.

His opposite number, Dudu Aouate, was called into action after 16 minutes when

he turned Alexander Amisulashvili's header from a Zurab Khizanishvili free-kick

round the post.

Israel were handed a good chance just before the half-hour mark when Akaki

Khubutia fouled Elyaniv Barda 20 yards from goal but Rafaelov sent his free-kick

against the wall.

The Maccabi Haifa man did better 10 minutes before the break when he drilled

effort from just outside the box was held by Revishvili.

When Rafaelov won a free-kick four minutes later, he handed responsibility to

Bibras Natkho, who fired over from 25 yards.

Georgia had their chances after the restart, with Jaba Kankava and Otar

Martsvaladze failing to test Aouate, while Dani Bondarv and Buzaglo were equally

wasteful at the other end.

But Buzaglo made amends as he played in substitute Ben Haim, who had replaced

Natkho moments earlier, to finish from 12 yards for the opener.

More chances followed for the hosts, with Almog Cohen firing over and Kaladze

throwing himself in front of an effort from Elyaniv Barda.

Georgia could muster little except a clutch of long-range strikes, and they

could have slipped further behind a minute from time, but Revishvili saved

Buzaglo's 12-yard shot.