Vikingur Reykjavik took a 2-1 lead over Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the first leg of the Champions League second qualifying round. The result puts the Icelandic side closer to facing Crvena zvezda in the third round, following the Serbian champion’s 4-0 victory over Larne.
Crvena zvezda is moving steadily toward the Champions League third qualifying round after a dominant 4-0 win against Northern Ireland’s Larne. However, the identity of their next opponent remains undecided. The battle for that spot intensified as RTS reported that Vikingur Reykjavik secured a 2-1 home victory against Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Nikolaj Hansen and the Vikingur Breakthrough
The match remained deadlocked until the second half, where Nikolaj Hansen emerged as the decisive factor for the Icelandic club. Hansen opened the scoring in the 48th minute, providing the initial momentum for the home side. While Hapoel Be’er Sheva managed to fight back, Hansen struck again in the 86th minute to reclaim the lead and secure the victory heading into the second leg.
Vikingur is not an opponent to be dismissed lightly. As RTS noted, the team proved its capabilities in the first qualifying round by eliminating the Hungarian side Đer.
Kings Kangva and the Hapoel Struggle
Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s efforts were led by former Crvena zvezda player Kings Kangva.
The Israeli champions suffered a critical blow shortly after Kangva’s goal. naslovi.net reported that a goal by Niv Yehoshua in the 78th minute was disallowed due to an offside call, stripping Hapoel of a potential lead before Hansen’s late winner.
Scheduling and the Road to Rajko Mitić Stadium
The second leg of this tie will not be played in Israel. Due to the unstable situation in the Middle East, Hapoel Be’er Sheva will host the return match on July 29 in Haladás, Hungary, as RTS detailed.
For Crvena zvezda, the timeline for the third round is already taking shape. The first leg against the winner of the Vikingur-Hapoel series is expected to take place on August 5, either in Israel or Iceland. The return leg is scheduled for August 11 at the Rajko Mitić stadium, according to BLIC.
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| Vikingur vs Hapoel (1st Leg) | Vikingur won 2-1 |
| Vikingur vs Hapoel (2nd Leg) | July 29 (in Haladás, Hungary) |
| Zvezda 3rd Round (1st Leg) | August 5 |
| Zvezda 3rd Round (2nd Leg) | August 11 (Rajko Mitić Stadium) |
The return match on July 29 in Haladás, Hungary, as RTS detailed, will determine the team facing Crvena Zvezda in the third round.
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