Hapoel Be'er Sheva secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sabah in UEFA Champions League action, with Eliel Peretz pulling the strings throughout a tense encounter at Turner Stadium. The Israeli hosts emerged victorious thanks to a composed performance in which Peretz's creative influence proved decisive, the midfielder registering five key passes to unlock a stubborn Sabah defence.

Peretz operated as the chief architect of Hapoel's attacking play, constantly probing for openings and threading passes into dangerous areas. His vision and distribution kept Sabah's backline under sustained pressure, creating the platform for his side's two goals. While the visitors managed to find a response and make the scoreline respectable, they could never quite neutralise the playmaker's influence in the middle of the park.

The result represents a significant statement from the Israeli champions on the continental stage, demonstrating their ability to navigate a tricky European fixture and claim all three points. Sabah will rue their inability to capitalise on the moments when they did break forward, ultimately leaving empty-handed despite their spirited effort.

For Hapoel Be'er Sheva, the victory provides crucial momentum as they look to establish themselves in the Champions League group phase. Peretz's performance will give manager Ran Ben Shimon plenty of encouragement, with the midfielder's ability to dictate tempo and create chances proving invaluable against determined opposition. As the campaign progresses, his creative output could prove the difference between progress and disappointment.

Sabah, meanwhile, must regroup quickly and learn from this defeat. While they showed resilience in pulling a goal back, the lack of defensive discipline that allowed two goals will need addressing if they are to compete at this level. The margin of defeat was narrow, but in Champions League football, small margins often tell the full story.