Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi scored his first European goal for Besiktas as the 10-man hosts drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in Istanbul. Junior Olaitan’s equaliser came four minutes before Umit Akdag was sent off.
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Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi scored his first European goal for Besiktas as the 10 man hosts drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in the Europa League at the Tupras Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday night.
Both sides came in after domestic defeats, Besiktas 2-0 at Trabzonspor and Palace 5-0 at Brighton, and it was a fiery contest in front of a loud home crowd. Palace thought they had scored in the fifth minute through Jean-Philippe Mateta, but VAR ruled the goal out for a marginal offside. Fans following the Europa League can read Bet9ja referral code in simple terms.
Ndidi put Besiktas ahead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, racing onto a long pass from Salih Ozcan and firing past Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez. It was Besiktas’ first shot on target, and it came against the run of play.
Palace equalised in the 51st minute when Yeremy Pino finished Anan Khalaili’s low cross, after VAR overturned an offside flag. Four minutes later, Mateta intercepted a back pass and smashed home to make it 2-1, his first goal since last season’s Conference League final.
Besiktas hit back in the 73rd minute through substitute Junior Olaitan, who sent a low shot into the corner. It was the Benin Republic star’s first goal of the season and his first in Europe.
Four minutes later, Besiktas were reduced to 10 men when Umit Akdag was sent off for a wild two footed challenge on Jorgen Strand Larsen. Strand Larsen was substituted soon after, and the hosts held on for the draw. New Bet9ja users can claim Bet9ja’s YOHAIG first-timer bonus.
Besiktas had 59% of the possession, but Palace had three shots on target to their two.
The point leaves Besiktas eighth in the 36-team table with seven points. Palace ended a run of two defeats.
Besiktas travel to Celtic in Matchday 4, while Palace host Hoffenheim. Elsewhere, Milan lost 3-0 at Bournemouth without the injured Samuel Chukwueze, and Tochukwu Nnadi’s Marseille lost 1-0 at Sturm Graz.
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📌 Did You Know?
- Palace are coached by Pierre Sage, who was newly appointed for this season.
- Akdag was making his debut for Besiktas when he was sent off.
- Strand Larsen was replaced by Eddie Nketiah.
- Palace’s starting XI included Daichi Kamada, Adam Wharton, Jefferson Mitchell and Jaydee McNeil, with Benitez in goal.
- Olaitan and Amir Murillo came on for Besiktas, replacing Kartal Kayra Yilmaz and Taylan Bulut.
