Igor Zlatanovic Scores but Refrains from Celebrating Early Goal for Hapoel Be'er Sheva

On August 25, 2026, Igor Zlatanovic, the Serbian striker for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, scored an early goal in the 10th minute of the UEFA Champions League playoff second leg against Sabah. Zlatanovic capitalized on a mistake by Sabah's goalkeeper Pokatilov to put his team ahead. However, unlike his teammates who celebrated enthusiastically, Zlatanovic remained composed and did not celebrate his goal.

The reason behind his restraint was linked to an earlier event in the match. At the 3rd minute, Zlatanovic had scored a goal that was disallowed due to offside. This previous disallowed goal likely made him cautious about celebrating prematurely. Unlike typical cases where players refrain from celebrating out of respect for a former club or opponent, Zlatanovic had no prior connection to Sabah or Azerbaijan, indicating his reserved reaction was due to the earlier disallowed goal rather than respect.

His teammates reacted with excitement, but Zlatanovic stayed calm until the goal was officially confirmed. This approach highlights his focus and perhaps a desire to avoid false celebrations in such a crucial Champions League qualifier.

The match is part of the playoff round for entry into the UEFA Champions League, underscoring the high stakes for Hapoel Be'er Sheva as Israeli champions.