Hapoel Be'er Sheva Nears First Ever Champions League Qualification After 2-1 Win Over Sabah

Hapoel Be'er Sheva is just 90 minutes away from qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history after securing a 2-1 victory against Sabah in the first leg of their playoff tie on Wednesday. Following the match, striker Igor Zlatanovic described his goal as the most important of his career so far and praised the team's overall performance, saying they initially struggled but then played excellently after falling behind. Zlatanovic expressed hope to score more crucial goals and thanked the fans who traveled to support the team despite the challenges of playing abroad.

Coach Guy Mizrahi emphasized that the tie is far from decided, noting that the team must perform well in the second leg next week for the win to count. He expressed satisfaction that the team did not panic after conceding an early goal and maintained their disciplined, dangerous style of play. Mizrahi acknowledged the quality of their opponents and reiterated the team's dream of reaching the Champions League, while stressing the need to stay focused on the task ahead.

The victory marks a significant step for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as they aim to make history by advancing to Europe's premier club competition for the first time. The decisive second leg will determine if they can complete this milestone achievement.