Europa League last 32 second leg, Ataturk Arena – Besiktas 1 (Arslan 72) Liverpool 0 (1-1 on aggregate. Besiktas win 5-4 on penalties)
Besiktas booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League following a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool in their round-of-32 second-leg clash at the Ataturk Stadium.
The Reds, returning to the scene of their 2005 Champions League final triumph, came into the game with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg following Mario Balotelli’s penalty at Anfield last week.
But despite the onus being on Besiktas to come forward and get the opening goal, it was Liverpool who looked the more like scoring throughout the first half as Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge both came close.
The home team came out after the break a different team, however, and following a sustained period of pressure, they were finally rewarded in the 72nd minute as substitute Tolgay Arslan picked out the top corner from distance with a fine finish.
With momentum on their side Besiktas could have won it at the death before the full-time whistle, only for Demba Ba to smash against the bar from five yards out, meaning extra-time beckoned.
Neither team were able to create anything of note in a tense and tight final 30 minutes, before Besiktas eventually emerged victorious 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out, with Dejan Lovren the only player to miss - firing over the bar when he had to score.
- Source: Eurosport
No comments:
Post a Comment