Sabah Coach Praises Hapoel Be'er Sheva After Crucial Champions League Win

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 2-1 victory over Sabah in the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff on August 19, 2026, bringing the Israeli club within reach of the group stage for the first time in its history. The match, held in Israel, saw Be'er Sheva demonstrate strong tactical discipline and quality play, impressing the opposing team's coach and players.

Valdas Dambrauskas, the Lithuanian coach of Sabah, acknowledged Be'er Sheva's superior performance and praised their style of play, giving special credit to Be'er Sheva's coach Ran Kuzuh. Dambrauskas noted that his team struggled to apply pressure and that Be'er Sheva's ball movement was exceptional. He emphasized the need for Sabah to improve their ball possession and adapt their strategy for the return leg in Baku, Azerbaijan, where they hope to overturn the deficit.

Sabah's goal scorer, Veljko Simić, expressed disappointment with the loss but remained optimistic about their chances in the second leg. He highlighted the importance of improving their performance and encouraged fans to support the team in the upcoming match. Dambrauskas also mentioned the challenge of playing away in Baku, noting that home teams often perform better, and predicted a very different and difficult game ahead.

The victory marks a historic moment for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as they edge closer to reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time, a milestone that would elevate the club's status in European football.