Sabah eliminates Hapoel Beer‑Sheva in Champions League qualifying round

Scottish champions Celtic were dealt a heavy defeat by Austrian side LASK in the opening round of the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers, while Malaysian club Sabah eliminated Israeli outfit Hapoel Beer‑Sheva from the AFC Champions League qualifying stage with a decisive late goal. Both matches were played on Tuesday and have immediate implications for the clubs’ continental campaigns.

Celtic entered the tie as domestic title‑holders but were overwhelmed by LASK, who dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, leaving the Scottish side with few chances to respond. The loss puts Celtic’s progress in the competition at risk, as they must now overcome a significant deficit in the second leg to stay in the tournament. In the Asian contest, Sabah secured advancement after netting a goal in the closing minutes of the match, overturning a tightly contested game and sending Hapoel Beer‑Sheva out of the competition. The victory marks Sabah’s first entry into the group stage of the AFC Champions League.

The outcomes highlight the challenges facing clubs from both Europe and Asia as they navigate early‑stage qualifiers. Celtic will look to regroup ahead of the return fixture to preserve their European hopes, while Sabah’s late‑stage heroics provide momentum as they prepare for the group phase of the continental tournament.