Eagles Soar To Top After Comeback Win Over Sivas

Beşiktaş came out on top of a back and forth second half in their week 6 match against Sivasspor to win 3-2 and reclaim leadership of the Spor Toto Super League in Ankara on Sunday.

The Black Eagles are homeless while their stadium is being rebuilt and the pitch at their second home is being redone, so the match took place at Osmanlı Stadium in the capital. Nonetheless, Beşiktaş made themselves at home with the Ankara crowd.

“We played with wonderful fan support. It gave us extra desire and determination,” Croatian coach Slaven Bilic said. “Sivasspor also played really well,” he added.

Under Roberto Carlos, Sivas has adopted an offensive style. Despite missing last year's goal king, Aatif Chahechouhe -- and getting almost no time in front of Beşiktaş's goal in the first half -- Sivasspor scored first. Beşiktaş midfielder Serdar Kurtuluş made a dangerous mistake at midfield, which left Sivas flying toward a very vulnerable Beşiktaş goal. Cicinho passed to Nigerian striker Macauley Chrisantus, whose header was deflected out by Czech defender Tomas Sivok.

Cicinho converted the corner to his fifth assist of the season, sending it into the top right side of the box, where it met Moroccan defender Manuel Da Costa's foot and sailed past five helpless Beşiktaş players and into the net.

Beşiktaş had failed to make good on several chances in the first half. Senegal striker Demba Ba narrowly missed two point blank shots on Ertuğrul Taşkıran's goal and Veli nailed one ball to the woodwork.

Eagles return

“We were unlucky in the first half,” Bilic said. “At halftime we decided to increase the pressure. We played with lots of pressure in the second half and earned three well-deserved points,” he added.

Ba finally made his mark on the game in the 58th minute. Gökhan Töre brought the goal into the box on the right and centered it. Ba split two defenders as he kicked up his right foot and hit the top right corner of the net.

He made it two in the 68th minute, getting his head on another Gökhan pass from deep in the right corner and directing it straight past Ertuğrul.

Sivasspor replied in the 74th minute with another corner kick. The ball knocked around in the box before landing in front of Hakan Arslan. The midfielder redirected it past Beşiktaş keeper Tolga Zengin and into the net.

It did not take Beşiktaş long to respond. A familiar formula put the Black Eagles yet again five minutes later. Töre centered the ball to Ba. Receiving the pass surrounded by defenders in the penalty box, Ba this time deflected it behind him to Olcay Şahan just meters away. The Turkey midfielder took a few steps and sank it into the net.

As the match wound down, Sivas desperately scrambled for an equalizer. Adem Koçak shot from afar, to no avail. Ahmet Aras used his head to send a ball just wide of the goal in the final minutes. The midfield lofted several long balls into the box in the hope that someone would get a foot on one, but nobody did.

“Gökhan Töre played awesome and you have to respect him. Demba Ba started scoring in the league,” Olcay said. “We believe in the championship. This season is going to be ours,” he added.

Thus Beşiktaş won three points needed to propel it into first place with 14 points to Galatasaray's 13. After defeating Kasımpaşa 2-0 on Sunday, Akhisar Belediyespor also has 13 points. Earlier in the day, Trabzonspor beat Mersin İdman Yurdu 3-1 at home and Bursaspor drew 2-2 with Eskişehirspor.

Rachel Mollman (Cihan/Today's Zaman)