The Republic of Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw by Israel in their fourth UEFA Nations League Group B encounter at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola, Serbia.

Troy Parrott netted his 15th senior international goal from the penalty spot shortly before half-time, but Israel levelled through Dor Peretz early in the second half.

Heimir Hallgrímsson made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with Austria, with Jimmy Dunne, Jake O’Brien, Jayson Molumby, and Jason Knight all coming into the starting XI.

Ireland tested Israeli goalkeeper Tzur as early as the fifth minute when Adam Idah cut inside and struck a low effort that was parried away. This was quickly followed by another attempt from Parrott, whose low drive from the right side of the area flashed across the face of goal.

Caoimhín Kelleher produced a fantastic save in the 16th minute to deny Abada, diving at full stretch to push a low, long-range effort around the post. Ireland continued to threaten, and Jayson Molumby went inches away from opening the scoring in the 22nd minute. A Ryan Manning throw-in found Dunne, who laid the ball off to Jack Moylan; he cleverly spotted the run of Molumby, whose first-time strike flew just wide of the near post.

Troy Parrott forced Tzur into another fine save in the 36th minute after Manning’s quick free kick found the striker inside the area. From the resulting loose ball, Jimmy Dunne was brought down and, following a VAR review, referee Juan Martínez Munuera awarded Ireland a penalty. Parrott stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-left corner, sending Tzur the wrong way to give Ireland a deserved lead.

However, Israel levelled the contest with their first attack of the second half. In the 46th minute, Oscar Gloukh’s initial effort took a deflection off Liam Scales, and Dor Peretz reacted quickest to the loose ball to slot it past Kelleher.

Adam Idah had an excellent opportunity to restore Ireland’s lead in the 53rd minute after Knight and Moylan combined to send an inch-perfect cross into the area. The ball was knocked down into the path of Idah, who looked certain to score until he was denied by a crucial defensive block. At the other end, Kelleher was called into action again to deal with a low effort from Abada, while Jimmy Dunne did excellently to track a dangerous run from Dor Peretz, allowing Kelleher to gather with ease.

Jack Moylan continued to carve out openings, forcing a corner after a brilliant run down the right before being fouled moments later, though the resulting free kick was cleared. Israel then came agonisingly close in the 71st minute when Gloukh played a pass into the path of Gandelman, whose low effort struck the woodwork.

Second-half substitute Chiedozie Ogbene almost snatched the lead in the 74th minute. A long ball towards Parrott was knocked down for the winger, who connected with a powerful first-time effort, only for Tzur to produce a superb one-handed save to palm the ball over the bar. Israel struck the post for a second time in the 77th minute when Gloukh’s half-volley beat Kelleher but rebounded off the far upright.

In a frantic finish, Liam Scales saw a long-range effort loop over the bar, and Ireland had one final chance to clinch a winner in the 89th minute. A cross from the left was met by Parrott, who directed the ball into the path of Knight. The midfielder headed it back across the face of goal, but the Israeli defence managed to clear the danger.

Ireland will complete their UEFA Nations League Group B campaign in November, travelling to face Austria before welcoming Kosovo to the Aviva Stadium for their final group game.

Republic of Ireland: Kelleher (GK) (C), Dunne, Scales, O’Brien, Molumby, Parrott, Knight, Idah (Vata 68), Coventry (Lawal 85), Moylan (Ogbene 68), Manning (Bagan 85).

Subs not used: O’Leary (GK), Keeley (GK), Cannon, Azaz, Kitching, Egan, Elding, Phillips.

Israel: Tzur (GK), Revivo, Nachmias, D. Peretz (C) (Shua 77), Gloukh, Stoinov, Eliel Peretz, Feingold (Dasa 77), Turgeman (Gandelman 58), Abada (Solomon 71), Azoulay (Y. Levi 58).

Subs not used: Eliasi (GK), Glazer (GK), Baribo, Mizrahi, Kanichowsky, Abu Farchi.

Booked: Nachmias (ISR), D. Peretz (ISR), Scales (IRL), Y. Levi (ISR)

Referee: Juan Martínez Munuera (ESP)

Player of the Match: Jayson Molumby