Azerbaijan's Sabah Football Club has made history by reaching the UEFA Champions League league phase for the first time, following a thrilling 5-2 victory over Israel's Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the playoff round. This achievement makes Sabah the second Azerbaijani team to qualify for this prestigious tournament, joining Qarabag FK, which first accomplished the feat in 2017.

Match Overview

The decisive playoff match took place after Hapoel Be'er Sheva had won the first leg 2-1 in Romania. The Israeli side initially took control of the second leg with an early goal from Igor Zlatanovic in the 10th minute. However, Sabah responded with a goal from Christian Nwachukwu in the 38th minute, leveling the score at 1-1.

Despite Sabah's equalizer, Hapoel regained the lead in the 61st minute through Guy Mizrahi. Yet, the Azerbaijani team fought back once again, with Umarali Rakhmonaliev scoring in the 74th minute to tie the match at 2-2. The drama continued as Tellur Mutallimov netted a crucial goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, bringing the aggregate score to 4-4 and sending the match into extra time.

Extra Time Heroics

In the extra period, Sabah completed their remarkable comeback with a goal from Patrick Orphe Mbina in the 101st minute, followed by another from Joy-Lance Mickels in the 115th minute. With these goals, Sabah secured a 6-4 aggregate victory, marking a historic moment for the club and Azerbaijani football.

This victory not only highlights Sabah's resilience and determination but also sets the stage for their participation in the Champions League league phase, a significant milestone for the club and its supporters.