Beşiktaş lose 3-2 to Celtic in Glasgow for first Europa League defeat

Beşiktaş twice came from behind with goals from Olaitan and Orkun Kökçü but lost 3-2 to Celtic in Scotland on matchday four of the UEFA Europa League. Head coach Vincenzo Italiano said, "We threw away three points and gifted the opponent three goals."

Beşiktaş suffered their first defeat in the competition after losing 3-2 away to Scotland's Celtic on matchday four of the UEFA Europa League league phase. The Black-and-Whites had recorded two wins and one draw in the previous three matchdays and finished the fourth with seven points. Celtic, who had gone without a point in the first three matchdays of the league phase, secured their first win against Beşiktaş.

Junior Olaitan scored the goal that put Beşiktaş ahead. In the 52nd minute, Olaitan took the penalty awarded after Poku was brought down. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone saved his effort, but Olaitan followed up well and sent the rebound into the net. Olaitan, who had scored in recent matches, netted his third goal of the season after the Crystal Palace and Başakşehir games.

A moment from the Beşiktaş-Celtic match

Agbadou's error leads to a goal

Celtic equalized in the 62nd minute after an attack that began with a misplaced pass by Emmanuel Agbadou. Callum Osmand produced a precise effort from the edge of the penalty area to make it 1-1. Beşiktaş head coach Vincenzo Italiano replaced Agbadou with Tiago Djalo in the 70th minute. The home side then went ahead through Camilo Duran.

Orkun Kökçü, who had been unable to play for 21 days because of an injury, came on for Salih Özcan in the 76th minute and leveled the score at 2-2 with a fine long-range strike in the 86th. The celebration did not last long, however, as Duran scored again a minute later to make it 3-2. Orkun had been injured in the Hoffenheim match on October 15 and missed league games against Trabzonspor, Başakşehir and Kasımpaşa, as well as the Europa League match against Crystal Palace during that period.

An incident from the Celtic-Beşiktaş match

Italiano: "We gifted the opponent three goals"

Beşiktaş head coach Vincenzo Italiano said at the post-match press conference, "Unfortunately, we lost a match we should not have lost. My players did a very good job today. I can say that we were soft in defence. We are not the same as we were at the start of the season. Today, we threw away three points and gifted the opponent three goals. I am sorry about that." Italiano added, "We have four matches ahead of us, which means 12 points. We will do everything we can to get out of this group."

Celtic head coach Martin O'Neill said, "We created chances for ourselves throughout the match and were able to achieve this result. They did everything I told the team to do. The changes paid off. I am very pleased with the team's performance."

Beşiktaş's away struggles continue in Europe

Beşiktaş's away struggles have continued in Europe after the team won only one of their five away matches in the Turkish Süper Lig this season, losing three and drawing one. The Black-and-Whites began their Europa League campaign with a 4-1 win over Marseille and a 3-2 away victory over Hoffenheim, then drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in Istanbul and have gone without a win in their last two matches.

Photos: Anadolu Agency

Beşiktaş lose 3-2 to Celtic in Glasgow for first Europa League defeat