Besiktas JK 3 - 3 SL Benfica: Besiktas battle back to baffle Benfica

Posted Thursday, November 24, 2016 by PA

Besiktas produced a stunning comeback to keep their Champions League hopes alive with a 3-3 home draw against Benfica.

The Portuguese visitors seemed destined to secure a place in the last 16 of the competition when Goncalo Guedes, Nelson Semedo and Ljubomir Fejsa gave them a handsome three-goal lead inside 31 minutes.

But the Turkish champions produced an amazing fightback as Cenk Tosun and Ricardo Quaresma, from the penalty spot, scored before Vincent Aboubakar levelled two minutes from time.

The sides had drawn 1-1 when they met in Lisbon two months ago and Besiktas had not lost in regulation time all season, their only defeat coming to Galatasaray in the Super Cup 16 games ago.

But Benfica gave note of their attacking intent within two minutes when full-back Eliseu advanced to strike the outside of a post from 20 yards.

Besiktas, who started the evening only a point behind Group B leaders Benfica, thought they had taken the lead when Aboubakar poked the ball home after goalkeeper Ederson Moraes pushed out Quaresma's deflected cross.

But home celebrations were cut short by a flagging assistant and Benfica struck after 10 minutes when Guedes kept his balance brilliantly to round goalkeeper Fabricio.

Benfica doubled their lead after 25 minutes with Semedo sending a 25-yard shot in the net off the underside of the crossbar.

And six minutes later it got even better for Benfica as they extended their lead in bizarre fashion.

Konstantinos Mitroglou headed twice against the crossbar before Eduardo Salvio did likewise against the post.

But it was fourth time lucky for Benfica as Fejsa followed up to sweep home the rebound, the first time Besiktas had conceded three times at their Vodafone Arena home.

Mitroglou should have put the game beyond Besiktas when he fired wide with only Fabricio to beat.

The miss proved decisive as Tosun struck with a spectacular 58th-minute scissor kick, and then Quaresma scored from the spot seven minutes from time after Victor Nilsson-Lindelof had needlessly handled.

It set up a grandstand finish and Quaresma audaciously crossed with a 'rabona' for Aboubakar to finish from close range.