Hapoel Be'er Sheva Secures Crucial 2-1 Win Over Sabah in Champions League Playoff

Hapoel Be'er Sheva celebrated a significant 2-1 victory against Azerbaijani club Sabah on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League playoff first leg, held at the stadium in Bucharest. The team credited coach Ran Kozuch and his staff for thorough tactical preparation, which was key to managing Sabah's possession-based style and dangerous counterattacks. The players' strong character and focus throughout the challenging match were also highlighted by the club.

This was Hapoel Be'er Sheva's first home game at the Bucharest stadium, which the team found acoustically favorable and reminiscent of their home ground, Turner Stadium. The passionate support from fans was deemed crucial, with hopes expressed to attract even more supporters in future matches despite the costs involved.

Midfielder Eliel Peretz was named the standout player for his excellent performance and leadership on and off the pitch. Although Peretz has yet to sign a contract extension for the next season, the club is interested in renewing his deal and plans to initiate talks once the busy schedule eases. Following the departure of Kings Kangwa, Peretz is expected to have a larger role and receive greater recognition.

Coach Kozuch confirmed that two foreign players are expected to join the squad before the transfer window closes. Looking ahead, Hapoel Be'er Sheva will travel to Baku on Saturday for the second leg, where they have been allocated approximately 1,900 tickets for their fans. The team acknowledges the narrow advantage and the need for heightened concentration in Azerbaijan, emphasizing that the tie is far from decided and expressing optimism about making history.

Summary: Hapoel Be'er Sheva defeated Sabah 2-1 in the Champions League playoff first leg in Bucharest, with strong tactical preparation and fan support playing key roles. The team looks forward to the decisive second leg in Baku, aiming to advance to the group stage for the first time.

Points: - Hapoel Be'er Sheva won 2-1 against Sabah in the Champions League playoff first leg. - Coach Ran Kozuch's tactical planning was crucial to managing Sabah's style. - Eliel Peretz starred and is likely to extend his contract with the club. - Two foreign players are expected to join before the transfer window closes. - The second leg will be played in Baku with about 1,900 tickets for Be'er Sheva fans. - The team remains focused, acknowledging the tie is still open and historic qualification is possible.

Topic: sports israel_relevant: true Entities: {"people": ["Ran Kozuch", "Eliel Peretz", "Kings Kangwa"], "organizations": ["Hapoel Be'er Sheva", "Sabah"], "places": ["Bucharest", "Baku", "Azerbaijan", "Turner Stadium"]}