Sosa strikes as Beşiktaş stifle Skënderbeu

• Albania's first UEFA group stage contenders defeated but not disgraced
• Powerful José Sosa strike provides the breakthrough for Beşiktaş
• Lively Skënderbeu offer more of a threat in the second half
• Bernard Berisha shot as close as they come to an equaliser
• Next Group H games: Beşiktaş v Sporting CP, Lokomotiv v Skënderbeu (1 October)

Skënderbeu put up a fight in Elbasan, but the Albanian champions were unable to reel in Beşiktaş after the Turkish side made the breakthrough in UEFA Europa League Group H.

Bledi Shkëmbi was not too far off target with a low free-kick for Skënderbeu early on, but the shots rained in on Orges Shehi's goal at the other end, Ricardo Quaresma denied a few minutes before Beşiktaş took the lead. Cenk Tosun did well to steer a ball from the right inside for José Sosa, and the Argentinian's powerful finish beat the keeper at his left-hand post.

Albania's first UEFA group stage contenders were chasing the game from then on, Şenol Güneş's men defending with real elegance and reducing their hosts to optimistic long-range drives. Shehi was kept on his toes, too, scrambling to field a Cenk strike before the interval.

Sosa had his head in his hands on 57 minutes after lifting an effort over the onrushing Shehi but wide of the post. Skënderbeu took heart, creating a minor scare for their Turkish guests soon afterwards as Peter Olayinka sent Tolga Zengin sprawling with an ambitious back-heel which trundled just off target.

Bernard Berisha later fired in an attempt which Tolga deflected away, before Shehi made a great save to fend off a Gökhan Töre bullet on the break. Skënderbeu never gave up, but the Black Eagles' feathers were never truly ruffled.