Hapoel Be'er Sheva Disappointed After 2-1 Loss to Vikingur in Champions League Qualifier

Hapoel Be'er Sheva expressed significant disappointment following their 2-1 defeat to Vikingur in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League qualifiers held in Iceland on Tuesday. The club acknowledged defensive weaknesses, describing their performance as too soft and stating that every Vikingur cross was almost a goal. Key defensive players Miguel Vitor and Ofir Marciano were praised for their efforts, with Vitor receiving particular commendation.

Niv Yehoshua stood out positively by assisting Kings Kangwa's goal and having a disallowed goal that sparked protests from teammates. However, the team overall was criticized for lacking quality, especially in forward play and wing attacks, which were described as clumsy and weak. The players also voiced frustration with the refereeing, questioning the offside call that nullified their goal and criticizing the extensive VAR checks.

Regarding transfers, Helder Lopes remains under contract and might be reintegrated if the club fails to sign a foreign defender. The team continues to seek a central defender as they prepare for the return leg in Hungary, where conditions are expected to be more favorable. Midfielder Matan Baltaksa's participation is uncertain. The club remains hopeful that if the players can elevate their performance and quality, they have a real chance to advance to the next round.