Birthday treat sees Beşiktaş beat Dynamo

Egemen Korkmaz turned his birthday into a party for all Beşiktaş JK fans, as his powerful 66th-minuteheader lifted the Black Eagles above FC Dynamo Kyiv and into the qualifying places in UEFA Europa League Group E.

Centre-back Egemen marked his 28th birthday by getting his head to a Simão corner and powering into the Dynamo net as the Istanbul side gained a modicum of revenge for their elimination from this competition by the same opponents last season. However, they lived on their nerves in the closing stages despite a typically vocal backing at the BJK İnönü Stadyumu.

There was little to choose between the sides in the opening period, though in terms of chances, it was the home side who were on top. Hugo Almeida might have put Beşiktaş in front in the 11th minute, as he timed his run perfectly to meet a Roberto Hilbert cross, but his header did not find its target. Olexandr Shovkovskiy then prevented a Dynamo disaster, fending away a Yevhen Khacheridi deflection from Ricardo Quaresma's searching ball.

The goalkeeper had to stop Mehmet Aurélio's shot soon afterwards and Quaresma might have done better with his boot when he elected to have a go with his head ten minutes from the break.

Beşiktaş showed plenty of patient endeavour after the break as they looked to pass their way to success, but the goal when it came was a little less elegant, Egemen surging in to nod past Shovkovskiy from a corner. Carlos Carvalhal's men created enough chances to kill the game off, but mindful of Dynamo's penchant for added-time goals, Beşiktaş were mightily relieved when the final whistle finally came.