Hapoel Be'er Sheva would have preferred to have a calmer few days in the lead up to their match against Lugano.
After returning from the first leg in Switzerland, the Israelis returned home to Operation Breaking Dawn.
Be'er Sheva is located 37km (23 miles) away from the Gaza Strip, where tensions have been mounting - rocket alarms have been heard across the city in recent days.
That was enough for the Swiss side to ask UEFA to move the game and, despite a ceasefire being declared on Sunday night, the match was moved to Netanya.
Hapoel Be’er Sheva fans, match was played in Netanya after Operation Breakin Dawn (Shaul Greenfeld)
Carrying over a 2-0 lead from the first leg, Hapoel tried to play more carefully from the start, making only one attempt, while Lugano searched for their first goal.
In the 40th minute, the Swiss club was close. Tomer Yosefi fouled Milton Valenzuela inside the box for a penalty, but veteran captain Jonathan Sabbatini’s spot kick was saved by Omri Glazer.
It was hardly a surprise, Glazer has a knack for saving penalties - including two in the Israeli Super Cup and three in the Israeli Cup final last season.
Omri Glazer, maintains his penalties record (Shaul Greenfeld)
After half-time, things changed. Miguel Vitor headed home from a corner for Hapoel five minutes after the break. Six minutes later, an Albion Hajdari own goal would double the hosts lead.
Miguel Vitor turned villain half-way through the second half, giving away a penalty with a foul on Hicham Mahou. This time, Ousmane Doumbia was able to convert.
But Hapoel were looking for one more moment to round off the night, and that came five minutes from time. A strong Hatem Elmahed set up Rotem Hatuel for his third goal of the summer.
Their 3-1 win tonight sees Hapoel Be’er Sheva qualify for the next round 5-1 on aggregate - it’s the fourth consecutive season they’ve reached the play-offs of a European competition.
Next up is Romanian outfit Universitatea Craiova, and Hapoel will be hoping to be back home in Be’er Sheva for this one.
Edited by Alex Smith
All photos by Shaul Greenfeld
