Incredible Comeback! Sensational Team in the Champions League for the First Time

What a football night in Baku! Sabah FK reaches the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in the club's history.

The Azerbaijani champions defeated Hapoel Beer Sheva in the playoff with a 6-4 aggregate score after an incredible comeback. After a 1-2 loss in the first leg, the hosts also trailed 0-1 and 1-2 at times in the second leg.

But Sabah refused to give up, forced extra time in the closing stages, and completed their historic advancement there.

Sabah Rescues Themselves at the Last Second

Initially, everything pointed towards Hapoel Beer Sheva advancing. The Israelis took the lead in the second leg, putting Sabah under even greater pressure.

Although the hosts fought back, they fell behind again at 1-2 after the temporary equalizer.

Sabah, however, fought until the end. Umarali Rakhmonaliev scored to make it 2-2 in the 74th minute, rekindling hopes of extra time.

And indeed, the equalizer came in the very last moments of the match: In the fourth minute of injury time, a corner kick set up the newly substituted Tellur Mütallimov. The super-sub scored to make it 3-2, sending Sabah into extra time.

Double Strike with a Man Advantage

In extra time, the match decisively swung in favor of the Azerbaijanis. Hapoel defender Djibril Diop received a second yellow card in the 100th minute, leaving his team with ten men.

Sabah ruthlessly exploited their numerical superiority. Orphe Mbina scored just one minute later to make it 4-2 (101st minute), giving them a two-goal lead for the first time that evening.

In the 115th minute, Joy-Lance Mickels finally sealed the deal. His goal for 5-2 cemented the historic advancement.

Shortly before the end, another Hapoel player, former Wolfsberg player Eliel Peretz, was also sent off with a second yellow card (116th minute). Beer Sheva thus finished the match with nine men.

Sabah Makes Club History

With the 5-2 victory after extra time, Sabah FK completed a 6-4 aggregate score and advanced to the Champions League group stage for the very first time.

Remarkably: The club was founded just nine years ago. Last season, Sabah won the Azerbaijani championship for the first time, ending years of dominance by perennial champions Qarabag Agdam.

For Hapoel Beer Sheva, after the dramatic exit, at least the consolation prize of the Europa League remains.