Hapoel Beer Sheva advanced to the UEFA Champions League Playoff Round as they defeated Red Star Belgrade 2-0 (3-0 on aggregate) to move to within 180 minutes of Europe’s top club competition. After a goalless first half, Igor Zlatanovic and Javon East both scored to send the southern reds into the final qualification stage where they will play Azerbaijan side Sabah. The first leg will be played next Wednesday at 22:00 Israel time in Bucharest while the return leg will be played just outside of Baku the following Tuesday night.

Shino Zuares, Chairman of the Israel Football Association said, “A wonderful victory for Hapoel Beer Sheva, who are now just one round away from a historic achievement for the club and one that would be hugely significant for Israeli football, reaching the Champions League. Credit to the coaching staff, owner Alona Barkat, the players and the fans who traveled to Serbia and supported and encouraged this wonderful team.”

Red Star pressed early on as the hosts looked for the aggregate equalizer but Vaislije Kostov’s attempt missed the target while at the other end, Eliel Peretz’s chance was caught by keeper Matheus Magalhaes to keep the match goalless. Beer Sheva had a brilliant chance in close when Javon East sent Igor Zlatanovic a perfect pass into the box but the striker couldn’t muster up a shot on target as the defense blocked the attempt.

The Israeli visitors kept pushing as East’s low liner missed by just inches left of the goal while Peretz’s 30 meter scorcher was parried away to safety by the Red Star shot stopper in the 25th minute. Kostov and Bruno Duarte tried their luck but came up short while Ron Kozuk’s team went on the attack yet again as the match went into the halftime break with the Red Star faithful booing their squad with the scored all knotted up at 0-0.

Dejan Stankovic made a couple of substitutions to begin the second half as Israeli Muhammed Abu Fani and Austrian star Marko Arnautovic came on for Red Star. Osman Bukari came flying into the box off the right wing but his share angled shot went way over the goal as the Serbians looked to break the ice. But Stankovic was ejected for arguing a non-call on a penalty that left his assistants in charge for the balance of the game as he walked off the pitch mock applauding the supporters.

With the entire stadium and the players still in shock, Beer Sheva came barreling down the pitch as Niv Yehoshua sent a fantastic pass to East who in turn found a wide open Zlatanovic in the box as the Serbian marksman slammed home the ball into the goal for a 1-0 lead (2-0 on aggregate) in the 61st minute. Both sides made wholesale substitutions while Arnautovic latched onto a ball in the area but slipped and fell as Beer Sheva cleared the threat.

In total control, Beer Sheva added an insurance marker as Javon East scored from in close thanks to a tremendous assist by Eliel Peretz to make it 2-0 in the 79th minute. Zahi Ahmed had a shot blocked and then hit the post, Lucas Ventura’s opportunity went just wide of the goal and then a reckless foul on Ventura by Abu Fani saw him see red and was sent off as Beer Sheva closed out the victory.