PARIS, France — Israel played to a draw with Mali to open the Olympic soccer competition group stage.
The two sides traded goals in the second half for a final score of 1-1. Both scores were made by Mali players, though.
In the 56th minute, a ferocious fight for the ball in the penalty area ended when Mali's Hamidou Diallo attempted to kick the ball away but scored a goal for Israel instead.
Cheickna Doumbia made up the deficit for Mali in the 63rd minute with a header goal off a cross from Thiemoko Diarra following a corner.
Neither team found the net again and played to a draw, each earning one point in the Group D contest. Japan beat Paraguay 5-0 in the group's other match on Wednesday.
Mali controlled the ball for most of Wednesday's match and outshot Israel 21-9.
Liel Abada, who plays for Charlotte FC, started at midfield for Israel. He did not attempt a shot in Wednesday's match but assisted in a shot-on-goal attempt in the 17th minute. Abada was substituted off the field in the 67th minute.
Wednesday's match was the first meeting between the two national teams. The beginning of the match was met with loud jeers as Israel's national anthem played, according to the Associated Press. Security was called to defuse tensions in the stands.
Israel is competing in soccer at the Olympics for the first time since 1976. The team qualified for the tournament by advancing to the semifinals of the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
Mali finished third place in the 2023 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It's just the second Olympic appearance for Mali in soccer.
Israel's next match is on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Paraguay. The game will be aired on Universo in Spanish and on Peacock in English.