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UEL: Skenderbeu: 0 Beşiktaş: 1

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Updated: September 17, 2015

Beşiktaş opened their 2015-2016 European campaign in the UEFA Europa League tonight with their first 3 points in Group H after a 1-0 away win at Skënderbeu Korçë.

Kerim Frei vs. Skenderbeu

Kerim Frei made his first start of the season against Skënderbeu and was booked in the 24th minute for simulation.

Şenol Güneş made several changes to his side compared to the weekend by bringing in Necip Uysal, Cenk Tosun, Ricardo Quaresma, Ismail Köybasi and Kerim Frei in to the starting XI instead of Oguzhan Özyakup, Olcay Sahan, Mario Gomez, Dusko Tosic and Gökhan Töre. A decision based purely on rotation as the result against Başakşehir certainly pleased the coach.

The Black Eagles started off with an early opportunity via striker Cenk Tosun, but the 24-year old striker found goalkeeper Shehi in his path in the 4th minute.

Beşiktaş were dominant and controlled the pace of the game aswell as the possession of the ball but it took them untill just before the half hour mark to find a breakthrough; a long ball by Necip Uysal was headed through by Cenk Tosun to José Sosa who fired it straight at goal beating goalkeeper Shehi in his short corner.

Cenk-Skenderbeu

Cenk Tosun could not get on the scoresheet tonight but did get an assist with a splendid headed pass to José Sosa in the 28th minute.

A plethora of opportunities were saved by the Albanian goalkeeper after the opening goal and the home side did very little in terms of offence to really upset the Black Eagles. But 20 minutes before halftime they had their first, and truely only, chance of the game. A backheel attempt went just wide of Tolga Zengin’s goal, apart from that Skënderbeu tried to create some pressure in the final third of the game but could not put Tolga to the test. While Beşiktaş kept on creating chances, especially once Gökhan Töre came on after the hour mark, who immediatly set up José Sosa with the chance for his second goal, but his lob went wide of goal. While Ismail scored the Black Eagles’ second on the 75th minute, only to see it dissalowed for offside.

At the end of the day Beşiktaş were extremely wasteful and really should have done a lot better in terms of converting chances, but came away with a well deserved 3 points.

In the other game in Group H, Lokomotiv Moscow pulled off a somewhat suprising 1-3 away victory in Lisbon against Sporting CP, making them the early leaders in the group on goal difference.

Post match reactions:

José Ernesto Sosa: “It was important that we made a good start into the Europa League’s group matches.”

İsmail Köybaşı: “We could’ve and should’ve scored more goals!”

 

 

Stadium: Elbasan Arena

Officials: Tamas Bognar, Laszlo Viszokai, Gabor Erös, Oszkar Lemon(4. official)
 
Beşiktaş: Tolga, Beck, Rhodolfo, Ersan, İsmail, Necip, Atiba, Kerim(54′ Gökhan), Sosa, Quaresma(83′ Mustafa), Cenk(61′ Gomez)

Reserves: Günay, Tosic, Serdar, Milosevic, Gökhan, Mustafa, Gomez

Teknik Direktör: Şenol Güneş

Skenderbeu: Shehi, Arapi, Ademir(67′ Vangjeli), Radas, Abazi, Berisha, Esquerdinha, Lilaj, Shkembi, Latifi(46′ Nimaga), Olayinka(70′ Salihi)
Reserves: Llapanji, Jashanica, Osmani, Vangjeli, Progni, Nimaga, Salihi
 
Head coach: Mirel Josa

Goal: Sosa (28′)
 
Yellow cards: Kerim (24′), Berisha (35′), Olayinka (45′)

Kaan Bayazit
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Kaan Bayazit

Editor-in-chief at Beşiktaş International
Freelance sports writer specialized in Turkish football and Beşiktaş. Co-host of the Black Eagles podcast. Frequently featured in World Soccer Digest Japan and many other international media outlets. Following Turkish football for close to two decades. Proud father to Aedin.
Kaan Bayazit
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