Welcome to Vodafone Park where tonight in the Champions League Besiktas host Ajax on matchday five of the group stage. I’m Joe Zelinger and I’ll be talking you through the action tonight.
Besiktas are yet to pick up a point so far, and are unbale to qualify for the Europa League as third placed Sporting Lisbon have the upper hand in the head to head record. Ajax are already through and this is very much a nothing game for them tonight. Still a strong line-up from them however. Here are how both teams start tonight’s match.
KICK OFF: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
3 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
Long ball over the top looking for Larin but Onana on his return from suspension comes out and clears for a throw-in.
6 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
Speculative effort from long-range from Per Schuurs which had Gunok in goal worried for a second, but it was always going wide of the post.
7 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
Former Tottenham man Georges-Kevin Nkoudou takes on Mazraoui on the left hand side, he gets a low cross in, but its comfortable for Onana to collect.
11 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
The right-back Rosier cuts inside on the edge of the box past Daramy, and fires a brilliant effort into the side netting. So close to the lead for Besiktas.
Embed from Getty Images13 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
It comes to Daramy who plays in a cross. Besiktas fail to clear their lines and Berghuis wins it back on the edge. He stabs a pass into Neres who takes the shot first time and it curls just wide.
20 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
CLOSE: Nkoudou crosses it in on a plate for Larin but the striker, who was stretching, couldn’t get anything on it. Any touch there and it would have been a goal.
21 mins: Besiktas 0-0 Ajax
PENALTY TO BESIKTAS – After a VAR check Mazraoui’s handball from Topal’s header is punished. It looked deliberate and the VAR officials have got it right. Former Leicester player Ghezzal will step up to take it.
GOAL: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax (Rachid Ghezzal 22 mins)
And he makes no mistake. Onana guessed the right way but can’t stop the Algerian’s powerful strike into the top right corner.
Embed from Getty Images28 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Berghuis finds Daramy just inside the Besiktas box. He cuts in on his right and fires one but its parried by Gunok. The lose ball is then headed back into the arms of the Turkish goalkeeper by Vida.
30 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Besiktas have a break on and Teixeira plays in Larin. He carries it into the box and gets a shot away but Onana saves with his feet at the near post. Besiktas win a corner from this but as the ball comes in a foul is given against Vida and the danger is over for Ajax.
34 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Good skill from Nkoudou to trick his way past Mazraoui. He eventually crosses to Teixeira but with his back to goal he puts a weak effort wide.
39 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Besiktas give it away to Daramy who takes the ball and runs at the Besiktas defence. He lays it wide to Tadic who floats a high cross over to the far side of the box to Neres. The Brazilian taks it down brilliantly, then chops back down the line and tries to pull a cross back in towards a teammate. Besiktas don’t clear and it falls to Berghuis but his shot is blocked and the hosts get it away.
Embed from Getty Images40 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Great opportunity for Besiktas to make it two there but Larin couldn’t sort his feet out in the box after a fantastic cross field ball from Nkoudou. The Frenchman has been very impressive for Besiktas so far.
42 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Late chances in this first half for the home side and its Larin who can’t take the chance again. Pjanic slides him in one-on-one but he puts it straight at Onana. Besiktas should be two up here.
45+1 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Freekick level with the edge of the box for Ajax on the left-hand side. Gravenburch bends it in but Gunok comes and claims. That should be enough to get Besiktas to half-time in front.
HALF-TIME: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Entertaining first-half of football here at Vodafone Park. Both sides definitely going for it even though the home side have no chance of qualifying for the Europa League and Ajax have already booked their place in the last sixteen. But Besiktas will be disappointed they haven’t added to their lead, with Cyle Larin being unable to take his chances so far. I certainly hope this pattern of play continues in the second-half though as this one has been a good watch so far.
For the second half Sebastien Haller replaces Mohamed Daramy.
And we’re back underway.
51 mins: Besiktas 1-0 Ajax
Larin is in a lot of space again. He brings it towards the edge of the box but his pass into Nkoudou is cut out by Gravenburch. Really poor from the Canadian.
Moments later Steven Berghuis fires a ferocious, swerving effort at goal but Gonuk is able to parry and Vida hacks it clear.
GOAL: Besiktas 1-1 Ajax (Sebastien Haller 54 mins)
And Besiktas are made to pay for the many chances they’ve missed tonight. The Besiktas defence is cut open by a great ball from Martinez. Tagliafico is through on goal but has to stretch for the ball. Instead of shooting himself he lays it off to the substitute Haller for an open goal. The French striker’s fantastic goal scoring form continues.
Embed from Getty Images57 mins: Besiktas 1-1 Ajax
Haller nearly has a second. David Neres crosses into the striker who takes it down with one touch and shoots over from close range on the half-volley. Its one-way traffic now at the start of this half
59 mins: Besiktas 1-1 Ajax
Sub for Besiktas as Alex Teixeira leaves the field. He’s replaced by Can Bozdogan.
67 mins: Besiktas 1-1 Ajax
Another change for Besiktas. Michy Batshuayi is on for Rachid Ghezzal.
68 mins: Besiktas 1-1 Ajax
The visitors in firm control now. They’re really putting the pressure on and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they went onto win this now. Haller flicks a good ball into Berghuis but a fantastically timed challenge from Montero denies him from getting any further in the box.
GOAL: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax ( Sebastien Haller 69 mins)
And now they do have the lead. It’s that man again. After a freekick on the left from Tadic, Lisandro Martinez helps it on and Haller is there to poke it home from a few yards. He’s now level with Lewandowski at the top of the goal scoring charts.
Embed from Getty Images77 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Tagliafico makes way for Daley Blind.
78 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Montero is down and being treated after a push in the back from Haller. Eventually the defender has to be stretchered off. Haller didn’t seem to think he had done anything wrong.
Embed from Getty Images80 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Berghuis tries a cross into the back post but its slightly too high and Tadic can only head over the bar.
81 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Three changes for Besiktas to try and change this game.
Pjanic is off for Ucan, Topal makes way for Hutchinson and the injured Montero is replaced by Uysal.
84 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
CLOSE: A header from Lisandro Martinez is saved by Gonuk.
86 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Freekick from just inside their own half for Besiktas in towards the first man. Hutchinson gets a touch but he flicks it way over.
88 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Cyle Larin has had a really poor night in front of goal, and his evening goes from bad to worse as he is shown a yellow card.
90 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
We’re into three additional minutes here in Turkey. Ajax look certain to make it five out of five in the group stage.
90+3 mins: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
Good build up play from Ajax. Neres is found in the box and squares it to Haller who taps it home for his hat-trick. The linesman has his flag up though. The Brazilian was offside in the build up. There’s a small VAR check to make sure, but the referee then signals to play on.
FULL-TIME: Besiktas 1-2 Ajax
A good response in the second half from the visitors sees Erik ten Haag’s side get their fifth win from five in the group stage this year. The result wasn’t important tonight but Besiktas will be disappointed in how they were wasteful in front of goal.
Cheers for joining me tonight in a really exciting game. I’ve enjoyed describing it to you. Take care.
