Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–0 Víkingur Reykjavík | Champions League Qualifier | Second Leg Review

Hapoel Be'er Sheva sealed their place in the next round of Champions League qualifying with a composed and thoroughly deserved 2–0 victory over Víkingur Reykjavík in the second leg of their tie, played on July 29, 2026. The Israeli side controlled proceedings at home and, despite a tense and card-heavy middle period, ultimately had too much quality for the Icelandic visitors.

Match Analysis

The opening stages were disrupted early for Víkingur, who were forced into two substitutions before the half-hour mark — Sveinn Margeir Hauksson replacing Tarik Ibrahimagić as early as the ninth minute, and Stígur Diljan Þórðarson coming on for Óskar Borgþórsson at the 15th. Such early disruption to their structure clearly unsettled the Reykjavík side, and Hapoel Be'er Sheva were able to build momentum as the half progressed.

The statistics tell a clear story of Be'er Sheva's dominance throughout. The hosts generated 121 attacks to Víkingur's 84, with their dangerous attack count — 88 versus 39 — highlighting the sustained pressure applied by Ran Kozuch's side. Be'er Sheva also held 56% of ball possession, won nine corners to four, and registered 11 total shots compared to just three from the visitors, with five on target against one.

The match's decisive period was framed by a heated stretch of yellow cards between the 55th and 63rd minutes, with Víkingur's Gunnar Vatnhamar, Aron Snær Friðriksson, and Daníel Hafsteinsson all booked for fouls in that short window. Be'er Sheva's Lucas de Souza Ventura was also cautioned during this spell. The disciplinary tension ultimately worked against Víkingur's defensive organization.

The breakthrough came in the 65th minute, when Zahi Ahmed converted with a field goal, assisted by Guy Mizrahi. The goal was a product of the sustained pressure Be'er Sheva had been building, and it effectively settled nerves in the home camp. A VAR check for offside involving Ahmed at the 82nd minute kept the crowd briefly on edge, but the decision stood in favor of the hosts. Shortly before VAR intervened, substitute Amir Ganah doubled the lead in the 80th minute, with Kings Kangwa providing the assist — a fitting reward for a team that had dominated so comprehensively. Ganah, introduced at the 75th minute, made an immediate impact.

The closing stages saw further bookings accumulate — Eliel Peretz, Igor Zlatanović, Kings Kangwa, and goalkeeper Ofir Meir Marciano all receiving yellows — reflecting the competitive edge that remained until the final whistle, even with the result beyond doubt.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast of a 2–1 home win with 53% probability for Hapoel Be'er Sheva proved directionally accurate. The predicted scoreline closely matched the actual 2–0 outcome, and the home win call was correct, delivering a successful prediction at a confidence level of 62/100. The margin of victory and the clean sheet for Be'er Sheva were perhaps the most notable divergences from the forecast, with Víkingur — limited to just one shot on target — never truly threatening Marciano's goal.

Key Takeaways

• Hapoel Be'er Sheva advance convincingly on the strength of their second-leg performance, showing clinical efficiency when the chances arrived.
• Zahi Ahmed and Amir Ganah were the match-winners, with Guy Mizrahi and Kings Kangwa providing the assists that made the difference.
• Víkingur's early injury disruptions and a poor disciplinary record in the second half — three yellows in eight minutes — fatally undermined their chances of mounting a comeback.
• Ran Kozuch's side will enter the next round of qualifying with considerable momentum and confidence.