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Germany: Besiktas came from behind to beat Hoffenheim 3-2 at PreZero Arena on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League league phase, with South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-Gyu scoring twice in seven minutes to turn the match around.
Hoffenheim pulled one back through a Koki Machida header in the 87th minute and pressed for an equalizer into stoppage time, but Besiktas held on.
The result gives the Istanbul club three points, while Hoffenheim are left with none after one defeat, according to the standings shown with the match data.
Neither side found a breakthrough before the interval. Hoffenheim came closest early on, when Machida hit the right post with a header from close range in the third minute. Bernardo sent a header just wide from a corner two minutes later.
Besiktas then took control of the attacking play. Oh Hyeon-Gyu, Amir Murillo and Orkun Kokcu all had efforts blocked inside the first seven minutes, and Leandro Trossard also saw shots blocked.
At the other end, Leon Avdullahu forced a save from Besiktas goalkeeper Alexander Nubel in the 35th minute.
Play was held up in the 29th minute because of an injury to Kokcu, who returned briefly before being replaced by Fabio Miretti at halftime because of the injury. The first half ended 0-0.
Oh Hyeon-Gyu and Trossard combined for several early second-half chances, and Besiktas broke the deadlock in the 60th minute. Murillo scored from very close range after a corner, with Oh Hyeon-Gyu providing the assist.
Hoffenheim answered within eight minutes. Fisnik Asllani, who had been booked in the first half, shot into the bottom left corner from the center of the box after Tim Lemperle set him up, making it 1-1 in the 68th minute.
The equalizer did not last. In the 72nd minute, Oh Hyeon-Gyu restored Besiktas’ lead from the left side of the box, finishing a fast break after a through ball from Junior Olaitan.
Seven minutes later he scored again, this time from the center of the box after a cross from Ilhan Fakili, again following a fast break, to make it 3-1.
Oh Hyeon-Gyu was shown a yellow card in the 80th minute for excessive celebration. Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann had earlier saved from Olaitan, and he later denied Miretti late in the match.
Hoffenheim made it tense in the 87th minute. Vladimir Coufal delivered a cross from a corner, and Machida headed it into the bottom right corner to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Before that, Bambase Conte had a shot blocked as the home side pushed forward.
Salih Ozcan missed from very close range for Besiktas in the 84th minute, a chance that would have restored a two-goal cushion.
Hoffenheim then had two players booked in quick succession, Tim Lemperle and Machida, as the match became increasingly physical.
The fourth official signaled four minutes of added time. Asllani had a shot blocked in the 93rd minute, and Besiktas, who brought on Umit Akdag and Ridvan Yilmaz to protect the lead, saw out the match.
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