Beşiktaş back in league race with derby win

ISTANBUL

Uluslararası Spor Araştırmaları Merkezi CIES'in verilerine göre Beşiktaş, maç başına topla oynamada en yüksek yüzdeye sahip Türk takımı oldu. Medipol Başakşehir'in de olduğu listeye Galatasaray ve Fenerbahçe ise giremedi. (Fanatik)

Defending champion Beşiktaş’s hopes for the domestic league title were revived on Feb. 25 after it defeated city rival Fenerbahçe 3-1 at its Vodafone Park, wrapping the wounds from a Champions League disaster against Bayern Munich.

“We knew we would remain in the race with a win,” said Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma, the man of the derby, after the final whistle.

Fenerbahçe scored a controversial early opener in the eighth minute when Brazilian attacking midfielder Giuliano’s shot was saved by defender Domagoj Vida, but his compatriot Fernandao was there to finish.

However, Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman admitted after the game that the striker was off sight.

The first half finished 1-0 with Fenerbahçe in the lead, but the second half was a completely different story.

The host managed to equalize the score in the 49th minute, when Vida headed in a corner kick, settling the matters with angry fans after being sent off in an away game against Bayern Munich on Feb. 20, when the Bundesliga giant defeated Beşiktaş 5-0 in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg matchup.

The Black Eagles took the lead in the 75th minute, following a brilliant shot by Quaresma that paralyzed Fenerbahçe keeper Idriss Carlos Kameni.

But Quaresma was not done as he found yet another goal for his team in the dying minutes.

“Falling behind so early motivated us positively. However, we showed our real character in the second half and picked up the three points with three great goals,” said Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş, who put his mark on the game with unorthodox moves.

“Coach’s move to include a second striker was a milestone in the game,” said Beşiktaş playmaker Tolgay Arslan, referring to the 63rd minute when Alvaro Negredo replaced Vida.

“We took risks but we played well,” he said.

Beşiktaş increased their points total to 44 and dethroned Fenerbahçe to take over the third spot goal difference.

The duo will clash again on Beşiktaş’s pitch in the first leg of the Ziraat Turkey Cup on Mar. 1.

“We would like to repeat this performance in our Turkish Cup matches against them,” Güneş said.

At the opening game of the league, Galatasaray beat Bursaspor 5-0 at home on Feb. 23, to reach 47 points as Akhisarspor won 3-0 against Konyaspor.

On Feb. 24, Kayserispor beat Istanbul’s Kasımpaşa and Black Sea giant Trabzon was back in the winning ways with a 2-1 away victory over Alanyaspor.

Osmanlıspor were below the relegation line and a struggling Antalyaspor were held by a goalless draw on Feb. 25.

Elsewhere, Göztepe won 1-0 against Sivasspor, with its new signing Demba Ba, who found the net in the 35th minute. Malatyaspor beat cellar dweller Karabük 3-1.