Three days after dismantling Marseille in Europe, Besiktas found a very different kind of night in Diyarbakir. Vincenzo Italiano’s side lost 3-2 at Amedspor on Sunday, missing the chance to move to the top of the Turkish Süper Lig.
Quick facts
- Besiktas were beaten 3-2 away by newly promoted Amedspor.
- Gift Orban scored from 25 metres and created Dia Saba’s goal.
- Alban Lafont produced a strong performance for Amedspor.
- Besiktas had beaten Marseille 4-1 in the Europa League on Thursday.
- Amedspor, a Kurdish club in their first top-flight campaign, lead the Süper Lig at the winter break.
The defeat came after a sharp swing in momentum across the title race. Besiktas had put four goals past OM in the Europa League, while their Istanbul rivals Galatasaray were thrashed 4-0 by Trabzonspor a day later, with Mohamed Salah scoring three times.
That sequence left Besiktas with an opening to take first place. Instead, they ran into an inspired Amedspor side and the decisive touch of former Lyon forward Orban.
The Nigerian attacker broke the deadlock with a fierce long-range strike from around 25 metres. He then supplied Dia Saba as Amedspor built the platform for a result that reshaped the table before the break.
Besiktas created chances but could not consistently beat Lafont, the former Nantes goalkeeper making several important interventions. Italiano’s team ultimately left empty-handed despite their European high only days earlier.
For Amedspor, the victory carries extra weight. Promoted to Turkey’s top division for the first time, the Kurdish club will enter the winter interval as league leaders.
