Hapoel Be’er Sheva moved one step closer to a historic UEFA Champions League main-draw appearance after securing a tense 1-0 first-leg victory over Red Star Belgrade in their third qualifying-round tie.
Playing at their adopted European home in Szombathely, Hungary, the Israeli side survived sustained pressure, a second-half dismissal and several dangerous Red Star attempts to claim only their second victory in five European matches at the Haladás Sportkomplexum.
Zahi Ahmed scored the decisive goal, but goalkeeper Ofir Marciano was equally important. His collection of excellent saves ensured Hapoel traveled to the second leg with both a narrow advantage and growing belief.
Red Star Controls the Opening Exchanges
Red Star made the brighter start, with Mirko Ivanić repeatedly finding space around the Hapoel penalty area.
Ivanić first tested Marciano with a shot from the edge of the box before firing wide after being supplied by Osman Bukari. His best opportunity arrived when he found himself unmarked at close range, only for Marciano to react superbly and parry his attempt away from the top-left corner.
Bruno Duarte also threatened, seeing a strike deflected wide as Red Star continued to look the more likely side to score.
Football, however, can punish even a momentary loss of concentration—and one costly mistake completely changed the contest.
Zahi Ahmed Punishes a Costly Defensive Error
Hapoel’s breakthrough was presented to them by Matheus, whose poorly executed pass towards Derrick Luckassen failed to reach its intended target.
Ahmed read the situation perfectly. The forward intercepted the ball, kept his composure and calmly rolled it into the net to give Hapoel Be’er Sheva a valuable 1-0 lead.
The hosts nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Matan Baltaxa met a cross with a powerful header that crashed against the crossbar.
Red Star almost produced an immediate response from a corner. Still, Pedro Amador was perfectly positioned on the goal line to clear Luckassen’s header and protect Hapoel’s advantage before half-time.
Baltaxa’s Red Card Changes the Match
Red Star coach Dejan Stanković reacted decisively at the interval by making three substitutions. Although the changes did not immediately produce a goal, the Serbian champions soon received a major boost.
Baltaxa collected a booking for holding an opponent before losing his discipline moments later. As Seol Young-woo broke down the right flank, Baltaxa brought him down and left referee Jesús Gil Manzano with little choice but to show a second yellow card.
Hapoel were reduced to ten men, handing Red Star a numerical advantage and plenty of time to find an equalizer.
Marciano Leads Hapoel’s Resistance
Red Star nearly capitalized around the hour mark when Muhammed Cham drove an effort towards the top-right corner. Marciano remained alert, stretching to palm the ball over the crossbar.
Despite playing with an extra man, Red Star struggled to establish sustained attacking pressure. Hapoel defended with impressive organization and even appeared to score a second goal when Ahmed set up Eliel Peretz, who controlled the ball before producing an excellent volley.
The celebrations were cut short after an offside was identified in the build-up.
That decision kept the score at 1-0 and ensured a nervous finish for Hapoel’s depleted defense.
Late VAR Drama—but No Red Star Equalizer
The closing stages produced another major talking point when Luckassen was initially shown a red card following an off-the-ball incident involving an apparent stray elbow.
After reviewing the incident through VAR, the referee downgraded the punishment to a yellow card. Red Star retained their one-player advantage but still could not find a way past Marciano and Hapoel’s determined defense.
The final whistle confirmed a famous 1-0 win—and Hapoel’s seventh clean sheet across their last eight European “home” matches.
What the Result Means for the Second Leg
The tie remains finely balanced. Hapoel will enter the return fixture with a valuable lead, but defending such a narrow advantage away from their adopted home environment will demand another disciplined performance.
Red Star, meanwhile, will be frustrated by their failure to convert territorial control and several promising opportunities. They have now gone three matches without beating Israeli opposition, recording one draw and two defeats.
For Tanzanian football fans, the second leg promises exactly the kind of continental drama that makes UEFA Champions League qualification compelling: a historic underdog chasing a main-draw spot, a former European champion fighting for survival, and only one goal separating the teams.
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Final Verdict
Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s victory was built on opportunism, resilience and an outstanding performance from Marciano. Ahmed punished Red Star’s biggest defensive mistake, while Hapoel’s back line refused to collapse after Baltaxa’s dismissal.
Red Star created enough chances to avoid defeat but lacked the finishing touch when it mattered most. They will remain confident of overturning the deficit, yet Hapoel have already demonstrated that they can absorb pressure and protect a lead.
At 1-0, the contest is far from over—but the dream of a maiden Champions League main-draw appearance is now very real for Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
