Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Heartbreak After Dramatic Champions League Exit

Hapoel Be'er Sheva experienced a crushing defeat in their Champions League qualifying campaign on August 25, 2026, after conceding a last-minute goal that forced extra time against Azerbaijan's Sabah FC. The team ultimately lost 5-2 in extra time, falling 6-4 on aggregate and missing out on the group stage. The mood at the club was somber, with players reportedly in tears and the atmosphere described as shifting from the happiest moment in the club's history to the most painful.

Coach Ran Kozuch acknowledged the team's impressive journey despite the loss, emphasizing that the defeat does not erase their achievements so far. He noted the upcoming Europa League group stage and the need for respectable performances there. Inside the team, there was a sense that the players lost focus during the crucial moments, playing as if they had already qualified and allowing Sabah to seize control.

Two key players, captain Miguel Vitor and striker Igor Zlatanovic, were injured during the first half and substituted before the second half began. Zlatanovic is expected to recover quickly from a groin cramp, while Vitor suffered a chest injury but is anticipated to be fit for the upcoming league match against Hapoel Ramat Gan on Saturday. The team is set to return to Israel and begin preparations for their next fixtures.