Starlet runs Eagles show

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Holosko (L) and Özyakup performs the ‘Gangnam dance’ during Beşiktaş’s 3-0 win over Mersin idman Yurdu. AA photo

Young midfielder Oğuzhan Özyakup needed just one half to shine against Mersin İdman Yurdu and contribute to Beşiktaş’s 3-0 Spor Toto Super League win on Nov. 4.

Beşiktaş jumped to sixth spot with the win, on 15 points, six behind leader Galatasaray. Struggling Mersin remained one-off-bottom in the 18-team division.

After a penalty was converted by Beşiktaş striker Hugo Almeida, former Arsenal Academy member Özyakup started to shine. The 20-year-old scored his debut goal for Beşiktaş before providing a good assist to Filip Holosko after dribbling past a string of Mersin players.

Holosko and others celebrated their goal with a rendition of the Korean pop sensation Psy’s “Gangnam Style” dance.

Özyakup sent off for early shower

However, Özyakup started the second half with an unexpected move after handballing to be sent off in a second bookable offense. “Usually I substitute players with yellow cards around the 60th minute, but Oğuzhan saw the red card early so I could not intervene in the incident,” Beşiktaş coach Samet Aybaba said. “Still, he was very good today.”

The young player was an addition to the Beşiktaş squad as part of the club’s rebuilding process. The Dutch-born player played for the Netherlands national team at youth levels, but later opted to play for the Turkish team.

“Everyone was very good today, and Oğuzhan was very good too,” Beşiktaş board member Ahmet Kavalcı said. “He is improving his game every day. I think he was a little unlucky to see the red card.”