Turkish clubs Besiktas and Trabzonspor played the final of two legs in their round of 32 clashes against Braga and PSV Eindhoven respectively. One side advanced while the other was unfortunately humbled.
Trabzonspor traveled to Holland to face Dutch giants PSV and needed two goals to stay alive in the tie. However, even after losing the home leg 2-1 in Trabzon, the Turks found themselves in a hole towards the end of the first half going down 3-0 before Burak Yilmaz scored one to head into the break down two.
Right at the bring of halftime, Trabzon keeper Tolga Zengin was ejected from the game. Not only were they down 3-1 in the game and 5-2 on aggregate, they went down a man as well.
Just seven minutes in to the second half, Tim Matavs scored his second of the game to end any hopes of a comeback in an enthralling 4-1 victory making it 6-2 over the two legs. Trabzon will have to wait until next year to try again on a European adventure.
Besiktas played host to Braga at the FIyapi Inonu Stadium in Istanbul. AFter winning 2-0 on Portuguese soil last week in Braga, the Turkish side had a decent cushion heading in. However, when Lima scored for the visitors in the 25th minute, it was game on.
Braga pressed in the second half but Besiktas somehow managed to avoid a second a goal to advance to the next round.
PSV Eindhoven will play Valencia--who have Turkish international Mehmet Topal-- in the next round while Besiktas have been matched with Atletico Madrid. Atletico have recently acquired Turkish international Arda Turan who will be playing his first side of Turkish opposition since his Galatasaray days.
Both ties will be full of high pace and goals, as long as neither side is defensive minded. Stay tuned for the round of 16 with the first legs to be played on March 8. I will keep you all updated.
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