Hapoel Tel Aviv defeated Salzburg 3-2 for a crucial away victory in the first leg of their Champions League playoff, AP reported.

Hapoel took the lead just three minutes into the match with a penalty by keeper Vincent Enyeama, after a clear foul by Franz Schiemer on Itay Shechter.

Salzburg, which have recently signed a contract Uruguayan attacker of Armenian origin Joaquin Boghossian, equalized in the 28th minute with a 20-meter shot by Nikola Pokrivac that hit the post before ending up in the opposite corner.

Ben Sahar then put the visitors ahead 15 minutes later with a close-range header from a cross by Deddi Ben Dayan that exploited a hesitant Salzburg defense, and Shechter slotted home to make it 3-1 for Hapoel in the 53rd minute.

Roman Wallner got one back for Salzburg with a penalty 14 minutes later after Omri Kende fouled Jakob Jantscher.

A revitalized Salzburg then pressed hard but failed to translate possession into goals in the last 20 minutes of the match, which also saw two near misses from Hapoel one from Schechter in the 82nd minute, the other from Eran Zahavi four minutes later.

The second leg is Aug. 24 in Jaffa.