Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures Hard-Fought 0-0 Draw Against Dinamo Zagreb in Europa League Opener

Hapoel Be'er Sheva began their Europa League league stage campaign with a respectable 0-0 draw against Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb. The match, held in Bucharest, Romania, saw approximately 800 Israeli fans travel to support their team.

Under coach Ran Kochva, Be'er Sheva fielded a rotated squad, including forwards Zlatanović and East, who had not started in their previous league match. The first half was characterized by cautious play, but Be'er Sheva gradually took control. Their most notable chance came in the 26th minute when new signing Amankwah Forson struck the post with a powerful left-footed shot from outside the box. Despite continued pressure and a late overhead kick attempt by Miguel Vitor, the teams went into halftime scoreless.

Be'er Sheva maintained their dominance in the second half, with only a single threat from Dinamo's Mislav Oršić testing goalkeeper Ofir Marciano. The Israeli side created several clear opportunities, including a header from Igor Zlatanović in the 53rd minute that was saved by goalkeeper Livaković, and a chance for substitute Amir Ganah in the 73rd minute that was thwarted by the Dinamo defense at the last moment. Despite controlling possession and creating numerous chances, Be'er Sheva was unable to convert their superior play into goals.

The 0-0 result earns Hapoel Be'er Sheva their first point of the league stage against a tough opponent. Their focus now shifts to their final league match before the international break, where they will host Ironi Kiryat Shmona at Turner Stadium.