Hapoel Be'er Sheva Wins First Leg Playoff Against Sabah in Champions League Qualifiers
Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 2-1 victory over Azerbaijan's Sabah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff round on August 19, 2026. Despite falling behind early in the match when Slobodan Simic scored for Sabah in the 6th minute, Be'er Sheva rallied with goals from Javon East just before halftime and Igor Zlatanovic in the 79th minute to complete the comeback. The Israeli champions, who entered the match as favorites after eliminating Red Star Belgrade in the previous round, will travel to Azerbaijan for the second leg next Tuesday holding a crucial advantage. The away goals rule does not apply in this stage.
This victory brings Hapoel Be'er Sheva closer to qualifying for the Champions League group stage for the first time in their history. Previously, the club was eliminated twice in the playoff round by Celtic and Maribor. Qualification would guarantee them at least eight matches in Europe's premier club competition and the chance to face top teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester City.
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