Europa League: Southampton 1-1 Hapoel Beer Sheva

Southampton 1-1 Hapoel Beer ShevaSouthampton were inches away from a dramatic victory, but it was the visitors who made it through to the knockout stage.

And that’s that. What drama! And a heartbreaking end to Southampton’s Europa League campaign. They came so close - Yoshida was inches away from an unlikely winner - but they end Group K in third spot, pipped by Hapoel, who have the same number of points but win the head-to-head thanks to tonight’s away goal. If they’d gone for it all evening like they did in those dying moments, their dreams might still be alive. But it’s not to be. Their failure to make it to the knockout stage puts them in illustrious company - three-time European Cup winners Internazionale couldn’t get there either - but that won’t make them feel any better right now.

Southampton were dumped out of the Europa League by Israeli champions Hapoel Beer-Sheva after a limp display at St Mary’s saw them fail to get the victory or goalless draw that would have seen them progress to the last 32 for the first time in the club’s history.Maor Buzaglo’s goal twelve minutes from time meant Claude Puel’s side needed to score twice and despite Virgil Van Dijk’s stoppage time equaliser, they couldn’t quite manage it.“Tonight it’s difficult to find good words,” said Claude Puel. “Just one chance, one shot, one goal for this team,” he added, referring to the Israeli side.“It’s a strong challenge now. Many teams they are eliminated and come back with a strong spirit but I know it's a disappointment for all people at the club."
Whilst Southampton’s rise over the last six years has been remarkable, Hapoel can boast a fairytale story of their own. In Alona Barkat, they have Israeli football’s only female owner. When she bought the club ten years ago it was in the second tier of the domestic league.

Last year the Camels won the Super League, Israel’s top flight, for the first time in 40 years and are 10 points clear of their nearest rivals this campaign. 1600 of their fans made the 3700 kilometre journey from the Negev Desert and saw their team make history by qualifying for the knockout stages.
“We did a big thing, there’s no question about that. We knew that eventually we’d get chances. We did that and we scored,” said Barak Bakhar, Hapoel’s manager.
After a cagey opening 20 minutes, Nathan Redmond ran 70 yards to the byline but pulled his cross back just above the head of Charlie Austin who was waiting to pounce.
But Beer-Sheva posed a threat on the break and went close when Buzaglo fired just over from a tight angle.
Redmond then threatened to lift the nervous tension from St Mary’s but his curling shot was well turned away by David Goresh.
Worryingly for Saints, Austin then suffered a fall and damaged his shoulder from the resulting corner and Shane Long replaced him.
It was proving a frustrating night for Puel, who has plenty of European experience from his time in France, and the stadium was growing edgier by the minute.