Besiktas 3 Stoke 1
Besiktas came from behind to beat ten-man Stoke City 3-1 as the Turkish side finished top of Europa League Group E. It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Besiktas who dominated throughout, although they trailed until the 59th minute when Matthew Upson was sent off.
Potters boss Tony Pulis opted to make 11 changes from the side that had beaten Tottenham 2-1 on Sunday and his new-look team played like strangers in the opening quarter of the match.
Asmir Begovic was in outstanding form, making a string of fine saves to keep the scoreline goalless, while Cameron Jerome wasted a great chance to score for the visitors when clean through on goal, Rustu Recber denying the former Birmingham City man.
Completely against the run of play, the Premier League side took the lead in the 29th minute when Ricardo Fuller’s deflected shot left Recber stranded.
Jamaica international Fuller almost immediately doubled Stoke’s advantage when, after a bizarre goalmouth scramble, the ball came back off the woodwork.
As Besiktas grew frustrated at the start of the second period, the game was briefly held up when objects were thrown at Jermaine Pennant as the winger attempted to take corner.
When the match eventually restarted, Besiktas were handed a way back into the match when they were awarded a penalty just before the hour mark, when Upson brought down Almeida, the former Arsenal and Birmingham defender being shown a straight red card.
The outstanding Manuel Fernandes sent Begovic the wrong way with his penalty and, with 15 minutes left, substitute Mustafa Pektemek headed Besiktas into the lead.
With just seven minutes left, another Besiktas substitute, Edu, scored the goal of the game, lashing in a shot from just inside the penalty area that Begovic could do absolutely nothing about.
The final result was a fair reflection of the game, but Pulis may rue the team he picked for the game if the Potters are handed a tough draw on Friday by virtue of finishing behind Besiktas in the group.
