Sabah’s late surge secures Champions League debut after Como

On Tuesday evening in Baku, Azerbaijani side Sabah clinched a 3‑2 victory over Hapoel Be’er Sheva in a spectacular match, becoming the season’s second club – after Italy’s Como – to make its first appearance in the Champions League main tournament. The win secured Sabah’s ticket to the group stage after a narrow 2‑1 defeat in the first leg.

Na Como, which qualified directly in Italy, Sabah entered the Champions League as the second debutant of the season. The opening round in Bucharest ended in a 2‑1 loss, leaving the Azerbaijani side trailing before the return fixture.

Early strike in Baku

The home leg in Baku began brightly when Igor Zlatanovic struck from the edge of the penalty area in the tenth minute. His early lead set the tone for a match that would see both teams exchange blows.

Christian Nwachukwu restored parity for Hapoel just before the break, bringing the score level. After the interval, Guy Mizrahi put Hapoel ahead with a goal around the 60th minute, reigniting hopes of a high‑scoring encounter.

Umarali Rakhmonaliev rescued Sabah with a long‑range equaliser roughly fifteen minutes from full time, forcing extra time. In deep injury time, Tellur Mütallimov delivered a spectacular volley to make it 3‑2, sealing the victory.

The match turned chaotic in extra time as Djibril Diop received a second yellow, reducing Hapoel to ten men, and later Eliel Peretz was sent off, leaving them with nine. Sabah’s Orphé Mbina and Joy‑Lance Mickels combined to see out the win despite the drama.

Beyond Sabah and Como, clubs such as NEC, Austria’s LASK Linz, Norway’s Viking FK and Slovenia’s NK Celje are still seeking a first‑time Champions League appearance. Current results suggest Celje (1‑1 with Slovan Bratislava) and Viking (2‑2 with Dinamo Zagreb) have the strongest chances.