Besiktas humbled by Vålerenga revival (Report from UEFA's Web Site)

Norwegian battlers Vålerenga IF went through to the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Quarter-Finals when an astonishing second-half comeback
gave them a 3-3 draw against fancied Turkish hosts, Besiktas JK. The visitors looked down and out when trailing 3-0 at half-time, only for a quick-fire three-goal burst in 10 minutes just after the hour to stun the home side and put Vålerenga into the last eight of the competition 4-3 on aggregate.

No warning of what was to come
Former Norwegian national team manager Egil Olsen and his men faced a
mountain to climb in the second-half, and Fredrik Kjølner attempted to give them a lifeline when he forced a smart save out of Fevzi as Besiktas sought to regain their first-half momentum. However, with Carew an isolated figure up front for Vålerenga, the Turkish side looked in little danger as the hour mark passed. Oktay's pace and guile, continued to pose a threat, and he released Mehmet, only for Vålerenga keeper Tore Krogstad to block the midfielder's drive. The miss was to prove costly as, incredibly, the Norwegians clawed their way back from the dead in a totally unexpected turnaround.

Kaasa switch proves vital
Vålerenga first reduced the arrears when Knut Henry Haraldsen punished
slack marking to head home from a corner after 63 minutes. Three minutes later, Vålerenga levelled the tie on aggregate, with a crucial second away goal. Carew and substitute Kaasa combined to force their way through a bemused defence for the latter to poke the ball past Kevzi. The Norwegians were now rampant, and continued their stirring revival in the 72nd minute. Kaasa - an astute substitute who gave the visitors added options up front - produced a pinpoint through ball for talented teenager Carew to round Kevzi and finish with ease. Besiktas had somehow managed to fall apart, and despite a late Mehmet effort which shaved the post, Vålerenga held on comfortably as angry boos rang around the Inönü stadium. Besiktas manager John Toshack will doubtless face a testing inquisition not only from his own club, but also from the Turkish press after his side's collapse.

Game of two halves
Vålerenga could have caught the Turkish league leaders cold right at the start, only for Besiktas JK keeper Fevzi to foil dangerous spearhead John Carew. However, the home side soon began to get a grip on the game, and gave themselves the ideal boost by levelling the tie on aggregate after only seven minutes, when Oktay made no mistake with a fine finish from an Ertugul corner.

Chances at both ends...
Vålerenga keeper Tore Krogstad kept the aggregate scores level shortly
afterwards, producing a magnificent finger tip save from an Ertugul header, and Mehmet fired inches wide from 18 metres as the home side sought to increase their advantage on the night. The Norwegians were being forced to defend for long periods, but Bjørn Viljugrein caused a scare for Besiktas' fanatical supporters when he got free in the penalty area only for a Turkish foot to block his goalbound effort. Defender Fredrik Kjølner should have levelled for the visitors after 38 minutes, when he found himself in space at the far post from a Bjørn Arild Levernes' free-kick, only to fire into the side netting from close range.

..but Besiktas find the target
The livewire Oktay was proving a constant threat for Besiktas at the other
end, and he created their second goal six minutes from the interval when he threaded a pass through the Vålerenga defence for full-back Tayfur to
slot the ball past Krogstad. The unstoppable Oktay then sent the home fans wild with a third after 42 minutes, when he rose majestically to power home a superb header into the corner from Christopher Ohenhen's right-wing cross