Figure caption,

HIGHLIGHTS - Israel 1-5 Scotland

At a glance

  • Scotland top Europe's World Cup Group B4 after beating Israel 5-1 in tense climax

  • Belgium finish second on goal difference despite thrashing Luxembourg 7-0 as they and Scots reach play-offs

  • Weir, with four goals, and Clark find the net for Scotland

  • Kats momentarily brought Israel back into it at 2-1

ByClive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Caroline Weir scored four times as Scotland finished top of their Women's World Cup qualifying group with a win over Israel that was enough to stay just one goal ahead of Belgium on goal difference on a nervy night in Hungary.

Both Melissa Andreatta's side and the Belgians advance to the play-offs, but the Scots will have a higher seeding as they also secure promotion to League A of the next Nations League.

Scotland captain Weir surpassed her hat-trick in Friday's 6-0 thrashing of Israel, with Jenna Clark scoring their other goal after Vital Kats had briefly reduced the deficit.

Belgium needed to outscore Scotland by four goals to match them on goal difference but fell short despite winning 7-0 in Luxembourg.

Group B4 table

As on Friday, Scotland faced Israel behind closed doors at the Bozsik Arena in Budapest because of the political situation in the Middle East.

Scotland made the breakthrough 60 seconds earlier this time, with midfielder Weir shuffling across the edge of the penalty box before curling her drive into the far corner past goalkeeper Fortuna Rubin.

Only 16 minutes gone and all was looking good, but news came through almost immediately that Inter Milan forward Tessa Wullaert had also opened the scoring for Belgium - as we were.

The lead was extended eight minutes before the break as centre-half Clark headed home Kathleen McGovern's fine cross to the back post.

Again Belgium responded, Union Berlin defender Amber Tysiak with their second in Luxembourg on the stroke of half-time, but there were still no panic buttons being pressed.

However, alarm bells were ringing 11 minutes into the second half as poor marking by Clark allowed former Glasgow City team-mate Kats, the midfielder now of Mainz, to lash a shot into the top corner.

Goals from Inter Milan midfielder Marie Detruyer and Tysiak suddenly brought Belgium within one goal of the Scots and the nerves were jangling.

They seemed to be settled again thanks to a touch of fortune when Israel defender Asia Dercksen was harshly ruled to have handled during a goalmouth scramble and Weir coolly slotted home the penalty kick.

Any doubts seemed to be extinguished just short of the 80th minute mark when Weir (who else?) curled in a superb drive off the underside of the crossbar from just inside the penalty box.

However, goals from Hannah Eurlings and Isabelle Iliano increased Belgium's lead to 6-0 and it was down to one goal between them and Scotland.

Step up Weir again, firing low past Rubin from 12 yards and, although news came of another from Eurlings in Luxembourg, the Belgians ran out of time and goals.

Analysis: Weir leads from front in Cuthbert's absence

Scotland had managed to match Belgium's 6-0 scoreline in Friday's reverse fixtures.

If they thought that was job done with the Belgians being away from home this time, they were to be sadly mistaken as the side ranked 18th in the world, seven places above the Scots, surpassed that victory in front of their own fans.

Scotland had to respond without any kind of backing.

Not only was this game behind closed doors, they also were this time without the creativity of Erin Cuthbert, the Chelsea midfielder who scored the opener and set up two more goals before being stretchered off with a knee injury in the closing seconds on Friday.

Israel had also sacrificed a midfielder for a defender in an attempt to prevent another heavy defeat.

Shorn of one half of their world-class central midfield, even more Scottish responsibility was thrust on the shoulders of Weir - and, boy, did she respond.

If the 30-year-old has not yet found a new club as she makes her expected exit from Real Madrid this summer, the Scotland captain will surely have plenty of suitors after a stunning seven-goal display in two games against Israel.

Thanks in large part to her endeavors, Scotland march on to October's World Cup play-offs in confident mood.

What Andreatta said

Figure caption,

Scotland beat Israel to top World Cup qualifying group

Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta: "I'm mixed [emotions].

"I'm a bit all over the place, to be honest.

"Proud, if I put some words on it right now, proud, really pleased with the campaign and the performances.

"In the second half, we were aware of what was happening in that other game, we had processes in place to have that information handy.

"But I think what's bigger than pressure is expectation and these players have high expectations of themselves and no one can be harder on themselves than this group."