Hapoel Be'er Sheva Faces Heavy Price After Red Cards in Champions League Exit

Hapoel Be'er Sheva came within 20 seconds of a historic qualification to the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday but suffered a last-minute 5-2 defeat to Sabah, resulting in a 6-4 aggregate loss and elimination from the competition. Despite the painful loss, the team will continue its European campaign in the UEFA Europa League. However, the club faces additional challenges as two players, Eliel Peretz and Jibril Diop, received red cards during the match that will carry over to the next tournament. Diop was sent off in the 100th minute after receiving a second yellow card for a borderline foul, with his first yellow given for time-wasting by kicking the ball out of play. Similarly, Peretz received a second yellow deep into extra time, shortly after Be'er Sheva conceded their fifth goal. While Diop has seen limited playing time this season, Peretz is considered a key player in coach Ran Kozuch's lineup, making his suspension a significant blow for the team moving forward.