Hapoel Be'er Sheva Upsets Red Star Belgrade 1-0 in Champions League Qualifier
Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 1-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade on August 4, 2026, in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Despite playing with ten men for over 30 minutes after Matan Baltaksa was sent off in the 58th minute, Be'er Sheva held firm against the stronger Serbian side. Zahy Ahmed scored the decisive goal in the 38th minute, giving the Israeli team a crucial advantage ahead of the second leg on August 11 at the Marakana stadium in Belgrade.
The match took place away from Be'er Sheva's home ground, at the Turner Stadium, where the Israeli team was considered a clear underdog against the experienced Red Star squad. The departure of key player Kings Kangwa had further weakened Be'er Sheva's prospects. Nevertheless, under coach Ran Kojuch, the team demonstrated resilience and determination, earning one of their biggest European wins to date. The victory sets up an important challenge for the return leg, with Be'er Sheva aiming to maintain their lead and advance further in the Champions League qualifiers.
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