Hapoel Be'er Sheva Advances to Champions League Playoff Despite Player's High Fever

Hapoel Be'er Sheva celebrated a historic achievement by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League playoff round after a commanding 2-0 away victory against Red Star Belgrade on August 12, 2026. The aggregate score of 3-0 secured their best-ever performance in the competition. The team, coached by Ran Kozuch, delivered an impressive display in Serbia and now faces Azerbaijani club Sabah in the playoff stage, just 180 minutes away from reaching the group stage.

Javon East stood out with his best performance since joining the club, scoring the second goal and assisting the first, while also showing relentless effort and defensive pressure. Right-back Guy Mizrahi earned significant praise for playing despite a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius, refusing to miss the crucial match. Itay Rotman, preferred over Jibril Diop, also contributed well, and Pedro Amador made a strong debut in the starting lineup.

Coach Kozuch received widespread acclaim for his excellent professional and mental preparation of the team. Club members noted, "His confidence infected the players. He stuck to his principles and delivered a knockout to Stankovic." The players celebrated extensively on the pitch wrapped in Israeli flags and continued festivities in the locker room, despite facing projectiles from the local stands.

Approximately 300 fans traveled from Budapest to Belgrade in a five-hour journey to support the team, with the club expecting even larger crowds for the upcoming playoff matches. After marking one of the greatest milestones in its history, Hapoel Be'er Sheva now focuses on overcoming Sabah to secure a place in the Champions League group stage.