Pafos FC pulled off a significant upset, defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 away from home in UEFA Champions League qualifying on July 31, 2025. The Cypriot side defended heroically and took their one big chance to secure a famous victory and a crucial advantage heading into the second leg. Maccabi, favored to progress, dominated possession but found it difficult to break down a resolute Pafos defense, and were caught by a sucker-punch counter-attack. The result sends shockwaves through the tie and puts Pafos FC in a strong position to potentially reach the next qualifying round. Maccabi Tel Aviv now faces a major task to overturn the deficit away from home.