Hapoel Be'er Sheva Overcomes Early Deficit to Beat Sabah 2-1 in Champions League Playoff
On August 19, 2026, Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 2-1 victory over Sabah in a UEFA Champions League playoff match. The Israeli champions fell behind early, conceding a goal in the sixth minute due to a major error by Lucas Ventura. Despite dominating possession with 68% in the first half, Be'er Sheva struggled to convert their control into goals initially.
Before halftime, Jovan East scored to equalize, restoring hope for the home side. The decisive moment came in the 79th minute when Igor Zlatanovic headed in the winning goal, completing the comeback. This win followed a strong performance the previous week in Belgrade, where Be'er Sheva convincingly defeated Red Star Belgrade, demonstrating their quality and potential in European competition.
Sabah, a confident team making their first appearance in the Champions League group stage, started aggressively with high pressing but ultimately could not maintain their early lead. The match highlighted Be'er Sheva's resilience and ability to respond under pressure as they advance further in the tournament.
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