Afternoon all. So, while some of today's World Cup qualification encounters hardly capture the imagination, that cannot be said for what we have this afternoon. Both of these sides are hunting the runners-up berth in Group F and are locked together on seven points. It couldn't be tighter.

The winner today will go three points clear of the defeated nation with half of the group matches completed. Both also have very winnable matches on Tuesday, so losing today could prove disastrous to their chances of reaching next year's tournament in Brazil. That should make for an exciting encounter, particularly because the prize of winning is so high.

Right, before we start any further pre-match talk, the team news from Tel Aviv is just beginning to filter through. Let's start with what the away team have to offer...

PORTUGAL XI: Patricio; Joao Pereira, Bruno Alves, Pepe, Coentrao; Veloso, Moutinho, Meireles; Valera, Postiga, Ronaldo

The big news for the Portuguese is that Joao Moutinho has been passed fit to start. The midfielder has been sidelined for FC Porto recently with a muscular problem but it has been decided that he can play in Tel Aviv. Other familiar faces are also named in the starting lineup, including the Real Madrid trio of Pepe, Fabio Coentrao and Cristiano Ronaldo.

ISRAEL XI: Aouate; Ben Haim, Tibi, Gershon, Shpungin; Natcho, Yeini, Kayal, Melikson; Hemed, Ben Basat

So, Chelsea midfielder and Israel's captain Yossi Benayoun has only been given a slot on the bench for the visit of Portugal. That is no major surprise though because reports in the local press during the week had indicated that he could be dropped following a handful of poor performances for the national team. However, there is some Premier League representation in that lineup in the form of Queens Park Rangers defender Tal Ben Haim. Celtic midfielder Beram Kayal also starts.

Going back to that Portugal team and a bit more on Moutinho. One of the downsides of being a national team manager is that you have to try to keep the clubs on side and that is usually done by not risking a player who has been carrying an injury. Porto may not be happy to see their midfielder starting, but Paulo Bento insisted earlier this week that he would only play the 26-year-old if he was fully fit.

In fact, here is exactly what Bento had to say on the prospect of Moutinho featuring:

"Moutinho will only play if he is 100% fit. The most precious asset we have is our health. There will be no lack of respect and no risks will be taken. Logically, we will try everything to get him fit up until the last minute."

I guess it won't take long to see just how fit the creative midfielder is. His performance may also be of interest to Tottenham Hotspur fans because after all, your club has been linked with him on numerous occasions.

With around 15 minutes until we get started in Tel Aviv, let's also take a look at what Bento has been saying about this game. The coach has left his players in no doubt about how important the fixture is.

"Of course it’s an important game. Are we under more pressure than when we began the campaign? Of course we are. In a country where it’s ‘all or nothing’ people may have less confidence in us, but they have to grant us the right to be optimistic. We are well prepared, we know what we have to do and we want to play a good game," he said.

Who could potentially cause problems to Bento's players today then? Well, Real Mallorca centre-forward Tomer Hemed has taken to international football like a duck to water. In 13 matches for Israel, he has notched eight goals - that's impressive by anyone's standards. He has also scored five times during this ongoing qualification campaign.

Another player that is highly thought of in Israel is Bibras Natkho. At 25, the Rubin Kazan midfielder has been tipped by many to replace Benayoun in the long term. He will perhaps need to add more goals to his game before he can claim to be as good as the Chelsea player, but he certainly has a creative side to his play.

And just before we get started, no Portugal match should be allowed to go ahead without a mention of a certain Mr Ronaldo. This will be his 102nd outing for his country at the age of just 28. His attitude and performances for Portugal had been receiving criticism from some pundits, but he silenced the critics with three goals and some decent displays at Euro 2012.

Right, the players are out and the anthems are underway. Not long now until we get started in Tel Aviv.

Here we go then, hosting Israel, kicking from right to left, get this encounter off and running.

Wow, what a start for Portugal! No idea what is going on inside the Israel box as two defenders slip over as Fabio Coentrao whips over a corner from the right. That error allows Bruno Alves time and space to power in a header at the back post with nobody marking him. That's his seventh goal at international level and it has given his nation to perfect start in Tel Aviv.

It's been a very, very good opening few minutes for the Portuguese. They are keeping the ball well and are making the home side work extremely hard at this moment in time. If the match carries on in this fashion, there should be further goals for the visitors.

CHANCE! That's better from Israel, who have grown in confidence in the last few minutes. Natkho slots a quickly-taken free kick into the path of Eden Ben Basat, who takes an instant shot from the right of the target. The ball flies into the side netting, but at least it is a sign of intent.

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It looks as though Ronaldo is going to have to put up with a few kicks today. He's been put on his backside four times already with late challenges. As yet he has not shown any frustration, but if yellow cards don't start to materialise, the former Manchester United man is bound to express his unhappiness.

Ronaldo has just fooled everybody inside stadium by passing up the opportunity to strike a free kick that he won 30 yards from goal. It looked as though it was perfect territory for the Portugal captain, but instead he allows Miguel Veloso to try his luck, but the ball clatters into the wall. Disappointing.

What a stunning strike from Hemed to level up proceedings. Ben Basat fails to control the ball inside the area, but his teammate Hemed reacts quickly to collect possession. In one movement he then spins and fires the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 12 yards out. It's a sensational finish because he couldn't see the target, he would have been acting purely on instinct alone.

The noise level inside the Ramat Gan Stadium has certainly increased since that equaliser. It had all been a little subdued, probably because Portugal scored so early. However, Israel are now arguably in the ascendancy and the crowd are responding. It's going to be a test of Portugal's character.

BOOKING! A needless yellow card for Kayal, who is cautioned for dissent after a free kick is given for a clear trip on Ronaldo. CR7 decides to strike the ball from distance this time, but only succeeds in finding the wall.

OFF THE POST! It would be fair to say that Helder Postiga was a flop at Tottenham Hotspur and he has just produced the sort of miss that many Spurs fans probably remember him for. Having rounded Aouate in goal, he slips over, but still has time to regain his feet. The goal is open, but with the defence and keeper retreating, he can only manage to hit the outside of the post. Dear oh dear!

PENALTY APPEAL! Here comes the frustration from Ronaldo. It looks as though he is going to volley a lofted pass from Veloso goalwards, but under a challenge from Rami Gershon, he hits the deck in dramatic fashion. He wants a penalty and there was contact, but it was minimal. The referee was right not to award a spot kick, despite all of Ronaldo's protests.

Ronaldo is not going to be a happy chappy now! Just moments after he is denied a penalty, his side fall behind. It's awful defending from the Portuguese, whose full-backs Coentrao and Pereira play Ben Basat onside. He takes full advantage by racing into the penalty and powering an unstoppable shot beyond Rui Patrício. This game has been turned upside down!

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BOOKING! The latest Israel player to hack down Ronaldo in full flight is goalscorer Hemed, who rightly goes into the book. The referee may have been influenced by Ronaldo's card waving antics though, which is never good to see on the football pitch. Let the referee do his job!

We will have one minute of stoppage time in Tel Aviv.

What a strange half of football that was. With two minutes on the clock Portugal were in front and they cruised along for a while with some neat passing play. However, since Israel levelled, they have been the dominant force. It just goes to show how quickly a game of football can change.

Let's not forget, this game could be swinging in Portugal's favour had Postiga not missed that glorious chance. Having seen replays, it is still no clearer how he managed not to score. In fact, it looked harder to hit the post than find the net - but he managed it. That was pretty much his only involvement of the half as well.

The centre-forward position has actually been a problem area for Portugal ever since Pauleta retired back in 2006. He had a goal record at international level of 47 from 88 games. Since then, they have had nobody come close to scoring goals that frequently. Having seen Postiga at Euro 2012 and today, he certainly doesn't look to be the answer - watch him go and score a hat-trick now!

Right, the players are back and no changes have been made to either side. It's a big 45 minutes ahead for both nations. Portugal get us restarted.

It's been a positive start from Portugal, who look like they have had a rocket from Bento during the break. They haven't called Aouate into action yet, but they have got into dangerous positions on a couple of occasions.

CHANCE! A big opportunity for Israel to put some daylight between themselves and Portugal. Ben Basat does brilliantly to bring down a lofted pass inside the area. His second touch is a shot, but his radar is switched off on this occasion and the ball flies well wide of the target. Having scored earlier, you'd have backed him to score from there. Will he be made to pay? We shall see.

BOOKINGS! It's all a bit needless from Coentrao, who hits the floor following a tangle of legs with Maor Melikson. His reaction is petty, believing that he was deliberately tripped when it was clearly an accident. The players then square up and both are cautioned. Handbags.

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SUBSTITUTIONS: A double switch from Bento as he looks for way back into this encounter for Portugal. Off come Silvestre Varela and Veloso, while Carlos Martins and Vieirinha enter the action. It is the latter's first appearance for his country.

CHANCE! Martins has just spurned the perfect opportunity to draw his team level with his first touch. He finds himself all alone at the back post, with a composed finish standing between him and a certain goal. It looks as though he panics though and the ball goes well over the crossbar. What a waste.

SUBSTITUTION: Goalscorer Hemed is given a breather following a really good performance. He was also on a booking, so it makes sense for Eliran Atar to come on in his place. That will mean Ben Basat pushes further forward, with Atar filling in on the left.

BOOKING! It's been a poor first five minutes on the pitch for Martins. Moments ago he sent a really good chance into orbit and now he is cautioned for a combination of handball and dissent. It can only get better I suppose, or he could get a red card!

And that could well be game, set and the match Israel. It's an awful piece of goalkeeping from Patricio, who comes for a corner that he is nowhere near getting. Gershon takes advantage by leaping high to plant a header into the net from eight yards out. That is the Celtic defender's second goal for his country and it may well have buried Portugal.

But hold your horses for a minute because Portugal are not done yet. Within a minute they have reduced the deficit thanks mainly to Ronaldo. Moments ago he was booked for dissent, but that only serves to spur him on as he motors into the area. With the angle narrowing he squares the ball for Postiga and even he couldn't miss from two yards out! Game back on!

SUBSTITUTION: It's a positive third and final change from Portugal coach Bento as he takes off centre-back Alves and replaces him with Hugo Almedia, who is a centre-forward. The visitors are virtually playing 4-2-4 now!

SAVE! The goal seems to have brought Postiga to life as he shows a turn of pace that had been lacking up until this point. It creates a shooting chance from 12 yards out, but his deflected effort is parried to safety by Aouate. It's all one-way traffic at the moment.

SUBSTITUTION: Goalscorer Ben Basat, who has run himself into the ground, is given a well deserved rest. On comes Benayoun for his 91st appearance and he is now just three short of the Israeli record. His experience could prove invaluable in the closing stages.

It's clear that Israel are looking to defend their advantage rather than add to it between now and the end of the match. All 11 players are in their own half and they asking questions of Portugal. Can you open us up? At the moment, the answer is no. They need to get Ronaldo on the ball more.

OFF THE BAR! What drama! A massive escape for Israel as Vieirinha swings over a deep cross from the right. Coentrao, up from the back, flies in with a diving header that bounces into the ground and over Aouate. However, just when it looks as though the ball is going to drop into the net, it hits the bar and lands on the roof of the net.

Portugal have four minutes of stoppage time to salvage a share of the spoils in Tel Aviv.

Absolutely amazing scenes in Tel Aviv! Israel cannot hold on and they look shattered. Almedia rises highest and beats Aouate to the ball, but his header clatters against the underside of the crossbar. It looks as though the home side have got away with it, but Ben Haim's clearance strikes Coentrao and rockets into the roof of the net. Portugal have somehow battled back from the dead!

Talk about leaving it late! There was barely any time left when Coentrao's fortunate effort flew into the net. The Israel players and supporters look distraught and you can understand why. They were moments away from recording a famous victory. However, the bigger winners are Russia, who can extend their lead at the top even further tomorrow.

That's all we have time for from Tel Aviv. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to check back with Sports Mole later today for plenty more coverage of World Cup qualification football. Until next time, goodbye.