Besiktas 1 - Levski Sofia 0

Wednesday 26th July 2000 by OneFootball.com

When French striker Pascal Nouma stabbed in a winner nine minutes from time, it was more than he or Besiktas deserved in this Champions' League second-round first leg match.

Up to that that point, the recent signing from Lens had looked like the reserve bridegroom at a wedding while his team had huffed and puffed and singularly failed to bring the house down.

During the first half, Ayhan Akman, Mehmet Ozdilek and Ahmet Dursun all went close for Besiktas, none closer than Ahmet who saw his shot come back off the keeper when it looked goal bound after a scramble in the area after a 38th-minute corner.

The second half was more of the same. With Nihat Kahveci down the right and Marcus Munch down the left destroying the opposition but unable to put in accurate crosses, the Black Eagles flattered to deceive.

Meanwhile Levski did enough on the break to suggest that the second leg in Sofia will be no formality.

One Nouma does not make a season, but on the evidence of this display, one Nouma is all the firepower Besiktas has.

Besiktas: Shorunmu, Halilagic (Erman, 60), Umit, Karhan (Rahim, 87), Nihat, Tayfur, Mehmet (Ibrahim, 71), Ayhan, Munch, Ahmet Dursun, Nouma.

Levski Sofia: Ivankov, Pazin, B. Ivanov, Topuzakov, Markov, Styon, Koval, Aleksadrov (Leonidas, 46, Milovanovic, 87), Khmeistruk, Kainov (Stanrov, 46), G. Ivanov.

Yellow cards: Besiktas: Umit, G. Ivanov. Levski: Aleksandrov.

Referee: Fiorenzo Treossi (Italy).

Nouma strikes late to spare Besiktas' blushes

Wednesday 26th July 2000 by Uefa.com

Besiktas JK failed to inspire much confidence in their fans during their UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round first leg encounter against Bulgarian league champions PFC Levski Sofia, but did enough to take a one-goal lead to the Bulgarian capital in time for the return match.

Nouma strikes The unlikely hero for the Turks was former RC Lens striker Pascal Nouma, who plundered the only goal of the game with six minutes remaining in the match, despite a poor performance by his standards. Much of the approach work from the Turks warranted better finishing, and with Levski having shown danger signs with quick counter attacks, the tie is delicately poised. Ayhan Akman, Mehmet Özdilek and Ahmet Dursun all had scoring chances for the home side during the opening 45 minutes, with Ahmet coming closest following a goalmouth scramble following a 38th-minute corner. Besiktas utilised the speed and skill of Marcus Munch and Nihat Kahveci along the flanks, but their inability to deliver accurate enough crosses hurt the home side until Nouma finally broke the deadlock.