Hapoel Be'er Sheva Celebrates Convincing 2-0 Win Over Vikingur to Advance in Champions League Qualifiers

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 2-0 victory against Vikingur on Wednesday, advancing to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and guaranteeing a spot in the Europa League group stage. The team and staff celebrated enthusiastically with fans on the pitch and later in the locker room. Coach Ran Kozuch praised his players, expressing pride in their performance and receiving accolades for his tactical decisions, including starting Zahy Ahmad, who was described as the best player on the field by club sources. Successful substitutions by Kozuch, such as bringing on Eliel Peretz and Amir Ganah, were credited with changing the game's momentum.

Defenders Miguel Vitor and Itay Rotman received particular praise for their contributions, with the club noting Vitor's experience brought calmness and Rotman proving his value. Although Peretz did not start, his impactful entry from the bench at a 0-0 scoreline suggested a professional resolution to any prior disagreements with the coach. Kings Kangwa played his final match for the club, departing emotionally as he was lifted on teammates' shoulders. He will undergo medical tests in Athens before signing with Panathinaikos, a transfer agreed upon before the match.

Be'er Sheva aims to strengthen its squad by signing a foreign player, possibly an attacking midfielder or a defender, to enhance their lineup. The guaranteed progression to the Europa League group stage is expected to accelerate these acquisitions, potentially attracting higher-quality players. Pedro Amador, who officially joined the team recently, is set to be registered for the third qualifying round, where Be'er Sheva will face Red Star Belgrade. Kozuch concluded by acknowledging the team's satisfaction with reaching the Conference League but emphasized their ambition to compete at a higher level.