Hapoel Be'er Sheva Beats Red Star Belgrade to Reach Champions League Playoff

Hapoel Be'er Sheva achieved a historic 2-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the Rajko Mitić Stadium in Serbia, securing a 3-0 aggregate win and advancing to the Champions League playoff round. The Israeli club will face Azerbaijan's Sabah FC, with a win guaranteeing their first-ever entry into the prestigious Champions League group stage.

The match featured a tough first half with no goals, but Be'er Sheva stepped up in the second half. Igor Zlatanović scored the opening goal in the 60th minute, stunning the tens of thousands of Serbian fans. Jovan East sealed the victory with a second goal in the 78th minute. During the game, Red Star's coach Dejan Stanković was sent off after losing his temper and clashing with the home crowd. In stoppage time, Red Star's Israeli player Mohammed Abu Fani also received a red card.

With this win, Hapoel Be'er Sheva is now just two matches away from reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history, marking a significant milestone for the club and Israeli football.