Black Eagles sweat against amateur Niğde in the cup

NİĞDE

Nine-time Ziraat Turkish Cup winner Beşiktaş has struggled to overcome Regional Amateur Division club Niğde Belediyespor, but cruised to third round. AA photo

Beşiktaş beat Niğde Belediyespor 2-1 but sweat against the part-timers in the Ziraat Turkish Cup yesterday.

The Black Eagles’ meeting against the minnow Central Anatolian side was the most intriguing battle of the domestic cup tournament’s second round since the Turkish Football Federation decided to add amateur sides to the competition.

Niğde Belediyespor, a team of part-time footballers, plays in the Regional Amateur Division, the fifth-tier in Turkish football, but gave the Super League title contenders a run for their money, although coach Samet Aybaba chose to rest most of his regular starters.

The 17-year-old Kadir Arı scored the opening goal in the first minute of the game, but Beşiktaş failed to increase its lead in the second half.

Germany’s Roberto Hilbert put the ball into his own net to equalize the score on the 55th minute.

However, defender Ersan Gülüm spared Beşiktaş’s blush and scored the winner in the 64th minute. Niğde had some decent chances late in the game but nine-time winner Beşiktaş held on to the score.
There will be 12 games in the second round of the cup today.