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Hassan's Efforts Not Enough For Besikas

Date: 2-12-2005
Wrote: EP's editor Islam Issa

Besiktas's European football campaign received a major blow today as they couldn't defeat Zenit St. Petersburg on their home soil, wasting another two points in their second and final home fixture.

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Bad day for BJK. Tigana has a go at Hassan during the second half...

Ahmed Hassan played a great game, put in all his effort, and never said 'die'. But the Besiktas players cost themselves after letting in a tame goal right after scoring. The Eagles were able to hit the woodwork three times, and gave away just one real chance in the game apart from the goal. The match had three points written all over it for Besiktas, and the feeling after the first goal was that it would be a goal-feast.

Our Egyptian star joined almost all of the attacks, either crossing, passing or shooting himself. He also held the ball well, and fouls on him resulted in two yellow cards. Things started to get frustrating for him, and the chances he failed to convert looked to be getting into his head, and he ended the game on a sad note. Not only was he booked for arguing with the official, but his eyes looked as though he was about to burst in tears for the shear bad luck he had in the game.

Surely after this match, Jean Tigana is going to be under even more pressure and even more doubt. Tigana failed to play a real striker, and left Akin, Sergen and Hassan to do the hard work at the front. Hassan and his coach argued during the game, with the Frenchman shouting at Ahmed, who appeared to be asking to go up-front. Both Ailton and Veysel were introduced in the second half, but they might as well have not come on. Zenit meanwhile put together experience and luck to come out with a draw.

Besiktas need to win their remaining game away against the bottom club, but also rely on Sevilla to win in Bolton, if they are to qualify.

Zenit 7 points (finished their games; all other teams have 1 match left)
Sevilla 6 points
Bolton 5 points
Besiktas 2 points
Guimaraes 1 point

EP Ratings:

Besiktas: Cordoba 7, Ali Tandogan 7, Ibrahim Toraman 6, Mustafa 5, Adem 6 (Min. 65 Ailton 4), Ahmed Hassan 8, Okan 7 (Min. 80 Veysel ?), Cagdas 6, Ibrahim Üzülmez 6, Sergen 8 (Min. 59 Kleberson 5), Ibrahim Akin 8

Zenit St. Petersburg: Contofalsky, Flachbart (Min. 64 Denisov), Hagen, Krizanac, Mares, Anyukov (Min. 90 Vlasov), Gorshkov, Radimov, Spivak, Kerzhakov, Arshavin (Min. 68 Sumulikoski)

Match Details:

Goals: Min. 23 Ibrahim Akin (Besiktas), Min. 29 Gorshkov (Zenit St. Petersburg)

Yellow Cards: Min. 13 Mares, Min. 41 Radimov, Min. 45 Gorshkov, Min. 90 Sumulikoski (Zenit St. Petersburg), Min. 31 Adem, Min. 90 Ahmed Hassan (Besiktas)

It looked as though it would be an easy game for the attacking hosts. The chances started with a low cross from Tandogan to Hassan, which was blocked by a defender. Hassan won the ball back superbly and was about to turn when Okan assumed it was a lay-back to him and shot. The goalkeeper made a good diving stop.

Hassan continued to excel, providing two clever back-heels in either half, one won a foul and the other a corner after a good one-two with Kleberson. Hassan also found Sergen with a good pass after some fine control. The Turk was pulled down in the box but nothing was given.


Pressure paid off soon, with Ali Tandogan getting a ball on the right wing, which he laid into the centre for Akin, who made no mistake with the finish.

Hassan could have doubled the lead for Besiktas when Akin played the ball to him, but the clever and quick shot skimmed the post.

But the goal on 25 minutes was followed by an equaliser 5 minutes later. A crossed free-kick found its way to the unmarked veteran Gorshkov who headed home.

The active Ibrahim Akin almost got a second, twisting and turning before being face to face with the goalkeeper and hitting the post.

Moments later, the woodwork was struck again as Sergen curled a distant free-kick onto the crossbar.

Again Besiktas attacked, with Akin running into the box. Unable to shoot he was tackled, but Hassan once more revived the chance for Besiktas, taking the ball and dribbling it into space before being fouled from behind. A card for the culprit, and a shooting chance for Sergen, who hit it sweetly, but just wide of the target. The third free-kick he got he crossed though, and it was headed by a defender onto his own bar.

The Eagles had to get the three points, and Ahmed Hassan moved back a little with Ailton coming on after a bit of the second half. Hassan had played the first half as a forward who tended to stick to the right.

Akin was at it again, hitting an early shot at the Zenit keeper, who managed to save. And when Hassan won a corner the ball eventually came to him, he was pushed and fell, but the referee played on. Besiktas were exposed on the break, and a two-on-two situation arose. Luckily though, Cordoba was up for the task and saved the eventual one-on-one in style.

With Ailton and Kleberson on, Besiktas tried to base their play around the Brazilians. Ailton's only touches were when as he tried to dribble through the entire defence before throwing himself to the ground - not good.

With just a few minutes on the countdown clock Besiktas had a massive chance when Ahmed Hassan provided a spectacular long ball from the left into the far post. Tandogan should have gone for goal but chose to pass the ball square on the volley, and it was cleared. The panicking Istanbul outfit just couldn't get a second, Akin missing a chance and then Hassan heading over. It was not to be. Even in stoppage time when Ahmed Hassan tried an over-head kick inside the box the referee whistled against him for dangerous play; the volley seemed to be heading goalward before it was blocked. Hassan's debate with the referee got him into the book.

The final moment was when a cross was played in to the Pharaoh, who could have shot or passed. He chose to nod it down with his head to a day-dreaming Veysel, and it was a harmless waste at the end.

Hassan's face said it all...