History: Hapoel Be'er Sheva advances to the Champions League playoffs
Hapoel Be'er Sheva is 180 minutes away from a historic qualification for the Champions League group stage. The Israeli champions won 0:2 in Belgrade against Red Star, securing a 0:3 aggregate victory. They will face Azerbaijan's Sabah in the playoff round.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva is 180 minutes away from a historic qualification for the Champions League and can certainly start dreaming of participating in the most prestigious competition of all. The Israeli champions won 0:2 this evening in Belgrade against Red Star, completing a 0:3 aggregate victory and advancing to the playoffs, where they await the Azerbaijani side Sabah, who stunned the Danish Aarhus.
Hapoel Be'er Sheva has reached the Champions League playoffs in the past, but failed to pass Scottish Celtic and Slovenian Maribor. Tonight, despite many seeing them as clear underdogs, they delivered a great performance at the Marakana stadium and eliminated the Serbian champions, continuing the perfect Israeli streak against Serbian representatives.
The first match against Sabah will be held next Wednesday in Romania (August 19), and the return leg will take place on Tuesday in Azerbaijan (August 25).
Ran Kozuch's team was more dangerous from the start. Igor Zlatanovic and Eliel Peretz missed opportunities, while Be'er Sheva's defense managed to prevent Red Star from creating a significant threat to Ofir Marciano's goal.
In the second half, the pressure in the stadium was palpable when coach Dejan Stankovic was sent off. Immediately after, in the 61st minute, the Israeli champions finally found the net. Peretz switched sides, Zlatanovic left it for Niv Yehoshua, who passed to Javon East. The striker found Zlatanovic in the center of the box, and the Serbian shot accurately into the net to make it 0:1.
In the 79th minute, the second goal arrived. Zahi Ahmed reached a ball that was on its way out, passed to Peretz, who turned on his marker and sent a cross to East. The latter beat Lukassen and from close range made it 0:2, a goal that effectively closed the story.
Until the end, Red Star hit the crossbar, but also lost Mohammad Abu Fani, who was sent off following a stamp on Djibril Diop. Marciano and the defense kept a clean sheet, and the Israeli champions signed a great evening with a double victory and advancement to the prestigious playoff stage.
Lineups
Red Star Belgrade: Mateus, Seol Young-woo, Derrick Lukassen, Strahinja Erakovic, Nair Tiknizyan (Aleksandar Katai, 80), Rade Krunic, Timi Max Elsnik (Mohammad Abu Fani, 46), Vasilije Kostov (Mirko Ivanic, 62), Osman Bukari (Mohamed Cham, 73), Bruno Duarte, Yai Anem (Marko Arnautovic, 46).
Hapoel Be'er Sheva: Ofir Marciano, Guy Mizrahi (Hamoudi Kanaan, 65), Miguel Vitor, Itay Rotman, Pedro Amador (Ofir Davidzada, 90+1), Niv Yehoshua (Mohammad Abu Rumi, 65), Lucas Ventura, Eliel Peretz, Javon East (Amit Ohana, 90+1), Zahi Ahmed, Igor Zlatanovic (Djibril Diop, 76).
