An injury time strike from super-sub Maharan Radi handed Hapoel Beer Sheva a slender advantage in their Champions League tie against Sheriff Tiraspol on Tuesday night.
The competition new boys played against 10 men for most of what was an incident-packed match at Turner Stadium.
Hapoel's margin of victory should have won more emphatic in the face of some generous decisions from a referee who awarded them three penalties.
But it was the visitors took the lead after 22 minutes when Josip Ivancic was allowed to head home unmarked at the far post.
Hapoel were handed a numerical advantage just two minutes later when Sheriff's Fidan Aliti was harshly sent off for a foul in the area, but Maor Buzaglo saw his penalty saved.
However, the hosts were level on the stroke of half-time when John Ogu slotted home from a corner. Elyaniv Barda put Hapoel ahead seven minutes into the second half - converting from the spot.
Sheriff hauled themselves level with what could prove to be a crucia second away goal via Josip Brezovec on 64 minutes, but there was no doubt that Ben Sahar was tripped in the 88th minute and substitute Radi stepped up to score the penalty that sent the Negev fans into ecstasy.
The Israeli champions take a slender lead to Moldava for next Tuesday's second leg in the second qualifying round.
Despite Beer Sheva's defensive vulnerability and poor finishing manager Barak Bakhar is confident that his team will prevail. "We will get through, even though we should have won by more.
"We weren't sharp enough up front and we let them score valuable away goals.
"They are a strong team even with 10 players but we will come prepared for the away game and we won't lose."
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