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Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi got on the scoresheet as 10-man Besiktas and Crystal Palace played out a 2-2 draw in the Europa League in Istanbul on Thursday night.
Both sides came into the game on the back of domestic defeats — Besiktas 2-0 to Trabzonspor and Palace 5-0 at Brighton — and it was a fiery contest in front of a raucous home crowd.
Ndidi put Besiktas 1-0 ahead in the second minute of first half added time as he raced on to a long pass from Salih Ozcan and fired past Palace keeper Walter Benitez.
It was Besiktas’ first shot on target and Ndidi’s first European goal for the club.
Palace equalised on 51 minutes thanks to Yeremy Pino who finished off Anan Khalaili’s low cross.
Four minutes later, Palace turned it around off Jean-Philip Mateta who pounced and smashed home his first goal since the Conference League final last season.
Also Read: Europa League: Beşiktaş Ready For Crystal Palace Showdown — Ndidi
But on 73 minutes Benin Republic star Junior Olaitan got on the score sheet to bring the score to 2-2.
In the 77th minute Besiktas were reduced to 10 men as Umit Akdag was sent off for a wild challenge on Jorgen Strand Larsen, who had to be subbed off.
Besiktas, who are now in eight place on seven points in the 36-team league standing, will travel to Scotland to face Celtic, while Palace host Hoffenheim in Matchday 4.
In other fixtures AC Milan, without the injured Samuel Chukwueze, lost 3-0 at Bournemouth, Nathan Tella was subbed on and Victor Boniface was not listed in Bayer Leverkusen’s 2-0 win at OFI Crete, Tochukwu Nnadi’s Marseille lost 1-0 at Sturm Graz, and Juventus came from a goal down to draw 2-2 with Rennes.
By James Agberebi
