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Goals from Ali Günes, John Carew and substitute Ibrahim Akin earned
Besiktas JK victory against Athletic Club Bilbao at the Inönü stadium
in Istanbul in this UEFA Cup Group B fixture.
Carew decider
A handsome strike by Günes ensured Besiktas went into the break 1-0 up,
and after Santiago Ezquerro had equalised for the Spanish team shortly
after the interval, Norwegian striker Carew reasserted the home side's
supremacy by volleying in the second on 63 minutes. Lively
substitute Ibrahim Akin rounded off proceedings with a well-taken goal
at the end.
Incisive start
Buoyed by the relentlessly supportive home fans and a morale-boosting
2-1 weekend win against Turkish Superleague leaders Fenerbahçe SK,
Besiktas began the match incisively, attacking from the outset. Carew
almost opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute when he headed
over following a pass whipped in by the sublime left foot of Sergen Yalçin.
Just three minutes later, the pair again combined effectively, this time
the Norwegian pulling back a ball from the byline for Sergen, whose chip
drifted wide.
Juanfran shines
Former RC Celta de Vigo winger Juanfran also shone for the hosts against
his former league rivals in the opening period, sending in a dangerous
cross on 13 minutes, then trying his luck from distance immediately
afterwards. Ex-Valencia CF forward Carew returned to the thick of the
action in the 22nd minute, bringing the crowd to their feet with a
spectacular overhead kick that almost worried goalkeeper Ignacio
Lafuente.
Günes opener
The home side deservedly took the lead in the 27th minute, and it was a
gloriously crafted goal. Carew collected in midfield and nudged a
precise pass into the path of the onrushing Günes, who looked up before
drilling a low, angled and powerful shot through the legs of Lafuente.
Ezquerro leveller
Athletic, 2-0 winners against Parma FC on Matchday 1, struggled
to impose themselves in the first half and their only noteworthy
opportunity arrived when captain Joseba Etxeberria lofted a well-flighted
ball in between two defenders for striker Ezquerro, who was denied by
Besiktas goalkeeper Ramazan Kursunlu. However, the same combination
rocked the home supporters at the start of the second period, Athletic
equalising when Ezquerro beat the offside trap to run on to a lobbed
ball over the top of the defence and knock in on the half-volley.
Carew toe-poke
The equaliser shocked Besiktas but they composed themselves as Emre Asik
got his head to a long punt and Carew toe-poked in for the second.
Substitute Ibrahim Akin applied the gloss to a commendable performance
with a minute of normal time remaining, rounding Lafuente before
slotting in.
Steaua next
Besiktas will hope to continue in the same vein against FC Steaua
Bucuresti on 25 November while Athletic will need to improve
against the same opposition on 1 December. Parma beat the Romanian side
in the group's other match, leaving a four-way tie for top spot, and R.
Standard de Liège the only side without a point.
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