Sabah Triumphs Over Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Securing First Champions League Berth
In a historic milestone, Sabah Baku celebrated their inaugural qualification for the UEFA Champions League (UCL) main draw, achieving a remarkable 5-2 victory over Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the decisive second leg of the play-off. This thrilling encounter concluded with Sabah progressing 6-4 on aggregate, marking a significant achievement for the club.
The match began with both teams demonstrating an aggressive approach. Just two minutes into the game, Hapoel’s striker Igor Zlatanovic controversially had a goal disallowed for offside after a VAR review, setting the tone for a nail-biting contest. Soon after, Kaheem Parris came close to scoring for Sabah, hitting the post in a frantic start.
Despite an early setback, Hapoel opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Zlatanovic, capitalizing on a poor clearance from Sabah’s goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov, slotted the ball into an unguarded net. The Serbian forward played a crucial role in Hapoel’s offensive strategy until an injury forced him to exit the match shortly after the half-hour mark, offering Sabah a glimmer of hope.
With time running out in the first half, Sabah seized their opportunity. A defensive error allowed Christian Nwachukwu to score from close range just before halftime, leveling the match and revitalizing the home team’s spirits.
The second half commenced with unrelenting intensity, as Sabah nearly took the lead within five minutes when Joy-Lance Mickels struck the crossbar. However, Hapoel responded with Guy Mizrahi regaining the advantage for his team around the hour mark, once again exposing weaknesses in Sabah’s defense.
Sabah, undeterred, found themselves in a familiar position when Umarali Rakhmonaliev unleashed a stunning shot from 25 yards that drew the match level yet again. As the clock counted down, it appeared Sabah’s efforts may end in disappointment, but in a dramatic twist, Tellur Mutallimov scored from a corner in the 94th minute, pushing the game into extra time and electrifying the home fans.
The additional thirty minutes heavily favored Sabah as Hapoel’s chances diminished with the dismissal of Djibril Diop due to a second yellow card. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, Sabah’s substitute Orphe Mbina headed his team close to victory, further shifting the momentum solidly in their favor.
In the final moments, Mickels secured the win with a powerful fifth goal, while Hapoel’s Eliel Peretz received a red card, leaving them with only nine players on the field—an apt conclusion to their late-game collapse.
The triumph was a significant cause for celebration among Sabah’s supporters, particularly considering the challenges overcome throughout the UCL qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, Hapoel Be’er Sheva, despite their disappointment, will at least take solace in qualifying for the UEFA Europa League main draw for the first time since the 2020/21 season, though they will rue the lost opportunity to compete among Europe’s elite.
Umarali Rakhmonaliev was named the Flashscore Man of the Match for his pivotal contributions during the encounter.
