Kasimpasa fight back from 2 goals down to hold Besiktas 2-2

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kasimpasa fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against Besiktas on Sunday in Week 10 of the Turkish Super Lig, with substitute Marcus Rafferty scoring a late equalizer.

Leandro Trossard and Dusan Vlahovic gave the visitors a commanding lead before Claudio Winck pulled one back for Kasimpasa and Rafferty struck in the 87th minute.

Besiktas made a strong start, with Trossard forcing goalkeeper Andreas Gianniotis into a save in the sixth minute before sending another effort narrowly wide six minutes later.

Vaclav Cerny nearly opened the scoring in the 15th minute when his first-time shot from Wilfred Ndidi's pass went just wide of the top corner.

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Ridvan Yilmaz played Trossard through inside the penalty area and the Belgian winger controlled the ball before firing a low shot into the corner.

Kasimpasa nearly equalized in the 37th minute when Haris Hajradinovic sent Adrian Benedyczak through on goal, but Besiktas goalkeeper Alexander Nubel saved the striker's effort with his leg.

The Black Eagles entered halftime with a 1-0 advantage.

Besiktas doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart when Kasimpasa defender Adem Arous failed to clear Junior Olaitan's long ball into the penalty area.

Amir Murillo collected possession on the left and found Vlahovic near the penalty spot, where the Serbian striker struck a first-time low shot into the corner to make it 2-0.

Kasimpasa responded in the 60th minute when captain Hajradinovic delivered a cross toward the far post, and an unmarked Winck headed home despite Nubel getting a hand to the ball.

The hosts increased their pressure after reducing the deficit, with Nubel producing an important save in the 66th minute to deny Elson Mendes' bicycle kick from inside the penalty area.

Mendes threatened again in the 78th minute, but his long-range effort was comfortably saved by Nubel.

Kasimpasa completed their comeback in the 87th minute when Rafferty, who had entered the match just four minutes earlier, met Kerem Demirbay's cross from the left and headed into the top corner from close range.

Besiktas moved to 19 points, remaining fourth in the Super Lig standings, while Kasimpasa climbed to fifth place with 17 points.

Halis Sünnetci