Connection goal from Besiktas comes too late against Borussia Dortmund

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 8:41 PM• Dominic Mostert

Borussia Dortmund have started the group stage of the Champions League with a win. The team of coach Marco Rose won 1-2 to visit Besiktas in the group of which Ajax is also a part. At the same time, Champions League debutant Sheriff Tiraspol recorded a surprising 2-0 win over Shakhar Donetsk; the top club from Moldova is the first team to grace its debut in the billion-dollar ball with a victory since Leicester City in 2016 (0-3 victory over Club Brugge).

Besiktas – Borussia Dortmund 1-2
Donyell Malen had a base place at Dortmund and formed the vanguard together with Erling Haaland; Marco Reus stood behind the duo as an attacking midfielder. However, it was Jude Bellingham who opened the scoring for the visitors in the twentieth minute. After a measured ball from Mahmoud Dahoud to Thomas Meunier, the steamy right-back delivered the ball in one go to Jude Bellingham, who acted quickly in the penalty area and silenced Vodafone Park. In minute 27, Malen struggled past two defenders in the penalty area and served Haaland, who shot far over from a promising position. Moments later, another good chance was not given to Reus, who encountered keeper Ersin Destanoglu from close range.

In the third minute of stoppage time in the first half, Dortmund doubled the margin. After a throw-in by Raphaël Guerreiro, Bellingham cut out Welinton in the penalty area, before serving Haaland. The sniper was able to finish just in front of the target. After about an hour, Haaland headed over on Malen’s instructions; . On the other side, Michy Batshuayi headed into the hands of Gregor Kobel and was unable to avoid the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation moments later. On behalf of Besiktas, Destanoglu turned up close attempts by Bellingham, Youssoufa Moukoko and Haaland. In the third minute of stoppage time, debutant Ansgar Knauff, who came on in the final phase, hit the crossbar.

Besiktas only found the connection in the fourth of the seven-minute stoppage time. After a spiraling free kick by Francisco Montero, he was free in the penalty area and headed in. The defender celebrated his goal exuberantly; his squad wanted to hurry and had four minutes to come alongside. There were no more great chances to equalize and Besiktas hopes for a better result in the next match, against Ajax.

Sheriff Tiraspol – Shakhtar Donetsk 2-0
Sheriff became the first team in the Champions League with a starting team without any experience in the billion-dollar ball since AEK Athens against Ajax in August 2018. Still, the Moldovan underdog from Group D, which also includes Internazionale and Real Madrid, took the lead after fifteen minutes. Adama Traoré, not to be confused with his namesake who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers, successfully took the ball out of the air around the penalty spot after Cristiano’s cross from the left wing. The ball seemed tenable for Andriy Pyatov, but the goalkeeper couldn’t get his fists against it. The detached substitute Momo Yansane even made it 2-0 after more than an hour; again a cross from Cristiano preceded the goal.