Sabah Coach Praises Hapoel Be'er Sheva After Crucial Champions League Win

Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a significant 2-1 victory over Sabah FC on August 19, 2026, in the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff, bringing the Israeli club within 90 minutes of reaching the group stage for the first time in its history. The match took place ahead of the decisive second leg in Baku, Azerbaijan. Following the game, Sabah's Lithuanian coach Valdas Dambrauskas acknowledged Be'er Sheva's quality and praised their coach Ran Kozuch for the team's impressive playing style. "They are very well-trained and deserve a lot of credit," Dambrauskas said, emphasizing the difficulty his team faced in pressing Be'er Sheva and their need to improve ball recovery for the next match. He also noted the challenge of playing away in Baku, where the home team often performs better.

Sabah's goal scorer Veljko Simić expressed disappointment with his team's performance but remained optimistic about the upcoming second leg. "We lost, but everything is still open," he said. "I feel we can improve, and I hope we do in the next game. Scoring in the Champions League is nice, but ultimately, I want us to qualify. We are looking forward to the match and hope the fans will create a magical atmosphere."

The victory marks a historic moment for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, who aim to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time. The second leg in Baku will determine if they can complete this milestone. Sabah must overcome the deficit to advance, with both teams preparing for a highly competitive encounter.