Hapoel Be’er Sheva would have hoped to kick off the new season in a different way.
Last week they hosted Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Israeli Toto Cup and were defeated 6-1.
The team and the fans can’t stop talking about that match. Is it a bad sign for a team considered to be one of the title contenders?
This week, they wanted to show at least a bit of improvement.
Their first European match of the season, a home game against Panevezys from Lithuania, was a good stage to do just that.
Panevezys, the current league leaders in Lithuania, wanted to keep up their run of good form, and their country’s recent run of success in the competition.
Earlier this week, they won in the league to maintain their three point lead ahead of Zalgiris.
Zalgiris also played in Europe this week, a sensational 2-2 draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League qualifiers.
Panevezys’ mission was to pull off another good result, but they have their own problems.
The team’s manager, Gino Lettieri, had sarcastically praised the Lithuania FA for their scheduling decisions.
They had to play a league match on Monday, in Israel on Thursday, and then another league match on Sunday - three games in less than a week.
It’s even more important for Panevezys, as their next league match is against Zalgiris.
Heading into the game with these issues on both sides, more the 12,000 fans arrived at Turner Stadium.
The home fans displayed a banner saying “I’ll love you for infinity” - that strong support for the Israeli side was enough for one goal, as Shay Elias opened the scoring in the 35th minute.
Be’er Sheva we’re looking for another goal, but failed to find the net.
Panevezys could have capitalised, but appeared to Lake the quality to do so.
“We had the attitude that we missed in the last match,” said Hapoel Be’er Sheva manager, Elyaniv Barda, in the post-match press conference, “players gave their hearts and souls and it cheers me up.”
Next week, they’ll make the long trip to Lithuania for the return leg, where one team’s European journey will end.
Edited by Alex Smith
Thumbnail photo by Hapoel Be’er Sheva FC
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