Europa League: Turkish giants Beşiktaş beat Israel's Be'er Sheva

An electric environment at the Turner Stadium in Be’er Sheva welcomed the players. Around 16,000 passionate fans filled the stadium.

Beşiktaş started the match much more determined than the locals but the first chance came for Be’er Sheva, as Elyaniv Barda missed a very close header. 

Barda had another promising chance but his shot from the centre to the left side of the goal went out.

Into the 33rd minute Beşiktaş held a wonderful attack that brought Ricardo Quaresema to threaten Dudu Goresh from distance, but the ball went above the crossbar.

In the 42 minute Beşiktaş got on the scoreboard.

Quaresma lobbed the ball from the right flank, and Be’er Sheva’s defender William Soares, mistakenly headed the ball to his own net.

A minute later Turner effect took off. The crowd cheered the team who went for a counter attack, and captain Elyaniv Barda scored from inside of the box after tricking his defender.

1-1 and the volcano of the fans roared.

An electric environment at the Turner Stadium in Be’er Sheva welcomed the players. Around 16,000 passionate fans filled the stadium

The two teams got another two chances, but the score stayed level. Draw at half time.

The second half opened in top pace by the Turkish team. Two chances that one dazzled the crossbar and the other went in, but it was cancelled due to an offside of Tosun.

Anthony Nwakame took four Beşiktaş defenders for a long ride on the left wing, and the crowd went crazy.

Beşiktaş kept trying and attacked well, but they were not accurate in the last move.

Be’er Sheva almost scored in a surprising counter attack when Nigerian John Ogu founded Barda, but the veteran striker tried a smart flat shot to the left, and it went centimetres near the post.

Into the 60th minute Beşiktaş went up to 2-1.

A beautiful attack founded Tosun on the tip of the box, and he released a strong kick from left to right, hit the post and the ball went in. A very important goal for the Turks.

Be’er Sheva tried to find the alley in the Turkish defence but Gunes’ players stood well.

Into the 70th minute Barda almost scored an amazing header, but it once again, missing just inches from the top corner.

Ogu almost score another counter attack for Be’er Sheva, but the ball glazed one of the defenders and went out for a corner.

Into the 80th minute Dutch striker Ryan Babel struck a sharp ball into the left post, narrowly missing.

Into the final minutes Be’er Sheva seemed to have given up on the game.

The quality differences between the two teams were remarkable especially in terms of stamina and fitness.

The quality differences between the two teams were remarkable especially in terms of stamina and fitness

Beşiktaş tried to double their lead with the combination of Talisca and Quaresma, but this time Goresh was on spot.

In extra time, Ryan Babel broke Be’er Sheva's offside line and ran 20 metres alone, found Atibe Hutchision totally free in the box, and it was 3-1 to Beşiktaş.

The first leg of the ‘Ottoman Derby’ in the Europa League concluded with an impressive Turkish victory over the Israeli champions from the Negev desert.

D. Goresh; William (own goal 42’); B. Bitton; S. Tzedek(yellow card 5'); B. Turgeman; O. Hoban (sub- Ohana 67’); J. Ogu; M. Radi; M. Melikson (sub- Mohammed Ghadir 54’); E. Barda (goal 44’, sub-Sahar 79’); A. Nwakaeme; Coach: B. Barak Fabri; D. Tošić; Marcelo; G. Gönül; M. Mitrović; Ricardo Quaresma; A. Hutchinson (goal 92’); N. Uysal; T. Arslan (sub- Talisca 74’); R. Babel; C. Tosun (goal 60’); Coach: S. Güneş

Uri Levy runs the popular football blog BabaGol, which covers football and politics focusing on the Middle East. Follow him on Twitter, and read his blog here.