"The comeback we made makes us all believe that it is possible to win in the second leg as well"
The 2:1 victory over Sabah in the first leg strengthened the belief at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, which aims to complete the mission in Baku and record a historic qualification for the Champions League: "If we feel a sense of missed opportunity after trailing, it says it all." Compliments to Eliel Peretz and Pedro Amador.
Great belief prevails at Hapoel Be'er Sheva following their 2:1 victory over Sabah in the first leg of the Champions League playoffs on Thursday. The club is confident in its ability to complete the mission next week in Azerbaijan and qualify for the Champions League, though they remain focused on showing respect to their opponent and playing their usual game in Baku.
Within the team, there is a feeling that they could have won by a larger margin, despite Sabah's own threats, including a brilliant save by Ofir Marciano from the top corner.
"If we won after trailing and we feel a sense of missed opportunity that it didn't end more decisively in our favor, it says it all. It's clear we could have scored a third, but we shouldn't be greedy. The comeback we made is a big thing and gives everyone the belief that it is possible to win in the second leg as well," said one of the players.
At Hapoel Be'er Sheva, they recalled the matches against Red Star Belgrade, where the team managed to secure a victory at the Marakana Stadium despite many doubting their chances, and even did so with a larger goal difference.
Javon East and Igor Zlatanovic scored the goals, but Eliel Peretz was the standout performer. He was involved in every move, navigated the team perfectly, and was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch. The team is confident they will control the ball and dictate the tempo in the away leg as well.
Beyond Peretz, the Portuguese Pedro Amador also stood out, looking as if he has been with the team for an entire season. The speed at which he integrated into the style required by coach Kozuch is exceptional.
Zahi Ahmed had a less successful game and was substituted, leaving coach Kozuch with a dilemma ahead of the second leg: whether to stick with him or start Amir Ganah, who replaced him.
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Hapoel Be'er Sheva returns to Israel today and will hold a training session tomorrow. The team is scheduled to train on Saturday morning before flying to Baku on Saturday night for Tuesday's match.
"We are 90 minutes away from history. One more effort. One more game and we will realize the biggest dream of every footballer," was the sentiment shared in the locker room.
