Southampton 1-1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva: Saints knocked out of Europa League

Southampton were knocked out of the Europa League after a limp display led to a 1-1 draw with Hapoel Be'er Sheva at St Mary's on Thursday.

Saints needed a goalless draw or a win to progress from Group K ahead of the Israeli side.

But despite Claude Puel naming a strong starting line-up, Southampton looked lacklustre throughout and fell behind in the 78th minute when Maor Buzaglo fired home from the edge of the box.

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Virgil van Dijk levelled in injury-time but Saints could not snatch victory as Maya Yoshida headed a final chance wide.

The late miss wrapped up a disappointing night for Southampton, who had beaten Group K winners Sparta Prague and Inter Milan in their previous two home matches.

Puel made three changes from their weekend defeat to Crystal Palace, with Jose Fonte, who hasn't played in Europe this season amid talk of a potential January exit, again not in the starting XI.

While Saints were rarely troubled defensively in the first half, they were also unable to build any momentum as too many passes went astray.

In fact it was the visitors who created the best opening when a cross from the left fell to Buzaglo at the back post and he fired over the bar.

Nathan Redmond threatened once on the break before seeing a 25-yard shot saved in the 36th minute.

Shortly afterwards the hosts lost Charlie Austin to injury after he appeared to land on his shoulder from a corner.

Saints failed to up the tempo after half-time and a misplaced pass gave Hapoel an opening in the 51st minute but a good block from Yoshida prevented Ben Sahar's shot from troubling Fraser Forster.

Dusan Tadic was introduced on the hour mark, making his return from a broken nose with a face mask, and he almost made an instant impact with a deflected effort.

Van Dijk then went close for Saints when he flicked a corner past the far post.

But the hosts still could not mount any sustained pressure and they fell behind when Oriol Romeu gave the ball away around his own box and it was passed across for Buzaglo, who finished well with a shot into the corner.

It took Saints until injury-time to equalise as Van Dijk finished from inside the box.

And they could have snatched victory as Yoshida rose to meet a cross, but he headed wide from six yards out.