Besiktas tame former finalists

Turkey's Besiktas JK advanced to the third round of the UEFA Cup with a 1-0 win against the 2001 finalists Deportivo Alavés in Istanbul's Inönü Stadium that saw them through 2-1 on aggregate.

Positive mood
Having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Spain, Besiktas started the return in a positive frame of mind and took the initiative straight away. Just seven minutes in they scored the crucial goal. Tayfur Havutçu collected the ball near the halfway line and set off on a run upto the Alavés penalty area. He then played in the unmarked Ilhan Mansiz, who finished with ease.

Close to equaliser
On the half-hour mark, Iván Alonso almost levelled the scores for the visitors after Ali Eren Beserler's mistake but he wasted the chance, and Alavés went in at half-time still needing the goal that would have forced the tie into extra time.

Home side go close
But the visitors created few chances, and with 17 minutes left, Besiktas missed the chance to extend their lead when Kaan Dobra's 25-metre shot hit the crossbar. Four minutes later, Pascal Nouma's ball from the right found Ilhan in the penalty area but he headed just wide.

Ilie shot saved
Alavés stuck at it and in the final minutes Adrian Ilie had a shot saved by Besiktas goalkeeper Oscar Córdoba. There were to be no more goals, albeit still time for red cards to be issued to Ilhan and Oscar Téllez for fighting.