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

Hapoel Be'er Sheva achieved a significant 2-1 victory against Azerbaijani club Sabah in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff on August 18, 2026, in Bucharest. Despite conceding an early goal, the Israeli champions demonstrated resilience and staged a comeback, with Aliel Peretz playing a pivotal role by orchestrating the midfield and assisting Igor Zlatanovic's winning goal. The team left with a valuable advantage ahead of the decisive second leg in Baku on Tuesday.

The club expressed satisfaction with the players' performance and attitude but emphasized caution, noting the tie is far from decided. Coach Ran Kojuch received praise for his tactical preparation and game management, while even Sabah's coach complimented Be'er Sheva's disciplined and high-quality play. Defensively, Pedro Amador stood out alongside Miguel Vitor and Itay Rotman, providing stability despite a single error leading to Sabah's goal.

Offensively, both Jebon East and Zlatanovic continued their strong form, with Zlatanovic rewarding the coach's trust by scoring the crucial winner. The team also credited the passionate support of hundreds of traveling fans in Romania, which created a warm atmosphere and boosted morale. Looking ahead, Be'er Sheva plans to travel to Azerbaijan later this week fully focused on securing their first-ever advancement to the Champions League group stage, aware of Sabah's potential to overturn the deficit at home.