Puchacz’s stoppage-time assist sends Sabah into extra time

Tymoteusz Puchacz made a decisive contribution in one of the most dramatic nights in Sabah FK’s history, providing a stoppage-time assist as the side from Baku beat Hapoel Beer Szewa 5-2 after extra time and reached the Champions League league phase for the first time.

The Poland international was involved at a key moment deep into added time, when Sabah were still chasing the goal that would keep their European hopes alive. His delivery from a corner found Tellur Mutamillow at the far post, and that intervention changed the course of the tie before Patrick Orphe Mbina and Joy Lance Mickels helped settle matters in extra time.

A difficult start in Baku

Sabah came into the second leg needing to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first meeting with Hapoel Beer Szewa. Puchacz had already registered an assist in that earlier game, but the task in Baku quickly became even more complicated.

Hapoel thought they had struck almost immediately, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside. Sabah then had chances of their own, with Kaheem Parris hitting the post, but the home side were punished soon after when a costly error from Stas Pokatiłow allowed the visitors to take the lead through Igor Zlatanović’s follow-up.

It was an uneasy opening for Sabah. Parris remained lively, while Puchacz also endured a difficult moment when a misplaced pass created another opening for Hapoel. Yet the hosts kept pushing and eventually found a route back into the match before the break, with Christian Nwachukwu finishing from close range.

Sabah keep coming despite setbacks

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Sabah forcing the issue and creating opportunities. Umarali Rachmonaliew was central to much of their attacking play, while Mickels and Parris both went close as Hapoel goalkeeper Ofir Marciano was repeatedly called into action.

But just as Sabah seemed to be building momentum, another major mistake from Pokatiłow handed Hapoel a fresh advantage. Guy Mizrahi capitalised, leaving the Azerbaijani side with even more work to do.

That setback did not end Sabah’s challenge. Rachmonaliew, one of the home side’s most dangerous players throughout, eventually beat Marciano with a driven effort from outside the box to level the match again and keep the tie alive heading into the closing stages.

Puchacz delivers when it matters most

As the clock ran down, Hapoel tried to slow the game and protect their position, while Sabah threw everything forward. Even Pokatiłow went into the penalty area for late set-pieces as the pressure mounted.

Puchacz, visibly tiring by that point, still had enough composure to take responsibility from the corner flag in added time. His cross to the back post found Mutamillow unmarked, and the finish forced extra time in extraordinary fashion.

From there, the momentum had shifted. Sabah completed the turnaround in extra time, with Mbina and Mickels sealing a result that sends the club into the Champions League league phase for the first time.

A landmark night for Sabah and Puchacz

For Puchacz, it was another significant contribution in a tie that had already featured an assist in the first leg. His move to Sabah had initially been met with surprise in Poland, but nights like this underline why the club’s European project has carried real weight.

For Sabah, the story was about resilience as much as quality. They recovered from errors, responded to repeated setbacks and found the decisive moment when elimination was only seconds away. In the end, Baku witnessed a European breakthrough that will stand as one of the club’s defining results.