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Besiktas drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday in the third round of the UEFA Europa League league phase, finishing the match with 10 players.
Besiktas entered the match unbeaten after wins over Marseille and Hoffenheim. Palace, a London-based Premier League club, had three points from its first two matches.
Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta's sixth-minute goal was disallowed for offside after a VAR review. Salih Ozcan replaced the injured Fabio Miretti in the 39th minute. In first-half stoppage time, Wilfred Ndidi ran onto a long pass from Ozcan from inside Besiktas’ own half and shot past goalkeeper Walter Benitez to make it 1-0.
Palace equalized in the 51st minute when Yeremy Pino scored from close range after a low cross from Anan Khalaili. Four minutes later, Mateta fired into the top corner after a misplaced backpass from Tiago Djalo to put the visitors 2-1 ahead.
Substitute Junior Olaitan leveled the score in the 73rd minute, striking into the bottom corner from outside the penalty area. Four minutes later, Umit Akdag was sent off for a foul on Palace substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The result lifts Besiktas to seven points and eighth place in the league phase standings. Palace has four points and sits in 15th.
Besiktas coach Vincenzo Italiano described the point as very important. “If Umit (Akdag) had not been sent off, maybe we could have won,” he said.
Italiano said a congested schedule forced rotation. Orkun was injured in the previous match against Hoffenheim, and Miretti may be out for several weeks, including Monday’s match against Basaksehir, another Istanbul club.
The coach also addressed the defensive record, as Besiktas has conceded in each of its last six matches. Italiano said: “This is a problem we need to solve. We concede easy goals and give opponents chances.”
Italiano said the aim is to advance from the league phase by finishing in the top eight or among the top 24. “This is a very difficult group, and getting out of it would be a big achievement for us,” he said.
Palace winger Dwight McNeil, 26, said the club wants to progress as far as possible. “We know it is difficult to manage this tournament and the Premier League at the same time, as there are many matches this season,” he said.
“Personally, it was one of the best atmospheres I have played in,” McNeil said of Tupras Stadium.
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