Hapoel Be'er Sheva Confident Ahead of Champions League Playoff Second Leg in Azerbaijan

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a 2-1 victory over Sabah FK in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff on Thursday, boosting the team's confidence ahead of the decisive second leg in Azerbaijan next week. Despite falling behind early, Be'er Sheva mounted a strong comeback with goals from Jevon East and Igor Zlatanovic, with Aliel Peretz standing out as the match's key player for his leadership and involvement in the team's play. The team believes they could have won by a larger margin but remain focused on respecting their opponent and replicating their performance in Baku.

The club recalled their previous success against Red Star Belgrade, where they overcame expectations by winning both home and away matches, reinforcing their belief in overcoming challenges on the road. Portuguese player Pedro Amador impressed with his seamless integration into the squad, while coach Kocuch faces a tactical decision regarding Zahy Ahmed's replacement for the upcoming match.

Hapoel Be'er Sheva returned to Israel on Friday and planned training sessions on Saturday before flying to Baku on Saturday night. The team is motivated by the prospect of making history, with players emphasizing that they are "90 minutes away from history" and determined to secure their biggest dream in football with one final effort in the playoff second leg on Tuesday.