Hapoel Beer Sheva Hold Off Crvena Zvezda for 1-0 Champions League Qualifying Victory

Hapoel Beer Sheva Edge Crvena Zvezda 1-0

Hapoel Beer Sheva secured a 1-0 victory over FK Crvena Zvezda in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Z. Ahmed’s first-half goal proved decisive at the Haladás Sportkomplexum in Szombathely, with Hapoel Beer Sheva holding on despite playing with 10 men for the final stages.

Ahmed’s First-Half Goal Decides the Match

The match’s defining moment arrived in the 38th minute when Z. Ahmed scored for Hapoel Beer Sheva. It was the only goal of the contest and gave the Israeli side a 1-0 advantage that remained intact through half-time and the second half.

Crvena Zvezda had the opportunity to respond after falling behind, but no further goals were recorded. The visitors’ task became more complicated by a series of disciplinary incidents, while Hapoel Beer Sheva’s early lead gave them a valuable platform to protect their advantage.

Disciplinary Turning Points After the Break

The disciplinary picture changed significantly after the interval. E. Peretz and M. Baltaxa were booked for Hapoel Beer Sheva in the 58th minute, with Baltaxa receiving two yellow-card entries at the same minute before being shown a red card.

Baltaxa’s dismissal was the major turning point of the second half, leaving Hapoel Beer Sheva to defend their narrow lead with 10 players. I. Rotman was also cautioned in the 64th minute, while Crvena Zvezda collected late bookings for D. Luckassen, N. Tiknizyan and M. Cham as the match became increasingly disciplinary in its closing stages.

Hapoel Beer Sheva’s Defensive Resolve

Hapoel Beer Sheva’s clean sheet was crucial once their numerical disadvantage emerged. The side preserved Ahmed’s 38th-minute lead and prevented Crvena Zvezda from turning its pressure, possession or attacking efforts into an equaliser, although the available event data does not record the specific defensive actions involved.

Crvena Zvezda had started the match with stronger recent form after recording two consecutive wins, but it could not convert that momentum into a goal in Szombathely. Hapoel Beer Sheva, meanwhile, showed resilience after entering the fixture with a loss and a win in its two most recent matches.

The Result Shapes Both Teams’ Form

The result gives Hapoel Beer Sheva a significant lift in its qualifying campaign and adds a win to a mixed recent sequence. Ahmed’s goal and the team’s ability to protect a one-goal lead, particularly after the red card, were central to the outcome.

Crvena Zvezda’s two-match winning run was ended by a narrow defeat, despite the team’s positive pre-match form. No current standings data is available for either club, so the precise effect on their positions cannot be established, but Hapoel Beer Sheva finishes the match with the stronger immediate result.