Beşiktaş advances to last 16 of Europa League

ISTANBUL

AA photo

Turkish league champions Beşiktaş defeated Israeli side Hapoel Beer Sheva 2-1 late on Feb. 23 to advance to the last 16 in the Europa League, leaving it Turkey’s only remaining competitor in continental action.

The match at Beşiktaş’s Vodafone Arena saw the Black Eagles control the game from the very start, earning a victory over the Israeli visitors following a comfortable 3-1 victory away last week.

The Black Eagles forged ahead in the 17th minute when a loose ball was powered home by Cameroonian forward Vincent Aboubakar into the top corner past a helpless David Goresh in the Beer Sheva goal.

Just after the hour mark, the Israeli champions gave themselves a glimmer of hope when Anthony Nwakaeme’s left-footed strike made it in at the near post in the 64th minute. Just four minutes later, Romanian midfielder Ovidiu Hoban squandered a golden chance to pull another back for the visitors, but his header failed to find a largely empty net.

Beşiktaş made sure of proceedings three minutes from time when substitute Cenk Tosun’s shot evaded Goresh to give Beşiktaş the win on the evening.

The Istanbul club is now the only Turkish side left in European competition after Ankara side Osmanlıspor suffered a 3-0 reverse at home to Greek giants Olympiacos after having earned a credible 0-0 draw last week away in Piraeus. Fenerbahçe had bid farewell to the Europa League one day earlier on Feb. 22 after it drew 1-1 at home to Krasnodar to crash out 2-1 on aggregate.

Beşiktaş will learn its opponent in the Europa League Round of 16 later on Feb. 24 following a draw to be held in Switzerland.