Newsletters
Besiktas defeated Lithuania's Kauno Zalgiris 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-off round on Thursday, scoring three goals in a single match for the first time this season and putting themselves in a strong position to reach the competition's league phase.
Playing at Tupras Stadium in Istanbul, Besiktas took a 2-0 lead into halftime through goals from Oh Hyeon-gyu and Amir Murillo before Orkun Kokcu added a second-half penalty to complete the scoreline. The match was officiated by referee Tobias Stieler.
The victory extended Besiktas' perfect record in all official matches this season. The Istanbul club has now kept a clean sheet in five European fixtures and one league match, bringing its total shutouts to six this season.
Despite the unbeaten start, Besiktas had scored more than one goal in only one previous match this campaign, making Thursday's three-goal display notable. The team beat Denmark's Midtjylland 1-0 and 2-0 in the previous qualifying round, and defeated Hradec Kralove and Eyupspor by 1-0 scorelines in earlier fixtures.
The return leg against Kauno Zalgiris is scheduled for Aug. 27 in Lithuania, with a Besiktas win or draw sending the club through to the league stage of the tournament.
South Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu scored his first official goal of the season in the sixth minute, heading in a corner delivery from Ridvan Yilmaz.
Oh had started four of Besiktas' previous matches this season, against Midtjylland and Hradec Kralove, before coming off the bench against Eyupspor in the 63rd minute. Thursday's header marked his first goal contribution of the campaign.
Besiktas doubled its lead in the 12th minute when right back Amir Murillo converted from close range after a cross from left back Ridvan Yilmaz, who also set up the opening goal. The goal was Murillo's first of the season, and Yilmaz's contributions gave him an assist on both of Besiktas' first-half goals.
Captain Orkun Kokcu extended the lead to 3-0 in the 59th minute, converting a penalty after Oh was fouled in the box. It was Kokcu's third goal of the season; he had also scored in both legs of Besiktas' previous-round tie against Midtjylland.
Moments earlier, star forward Dusan Vlahovic had entered the match in the 60th minute as a substitute for Oh, making his first appearance before Besiktas fans in an official match. The Serbian forward was greeted with a strong reception from supporters and came close to scoring in the 68th minute, when his header was saved by Kauno Zalgiris goalkeeper Tomas Svedkauskas.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
