Besiktas Win Super Lig By One-Goal Margin Over Galatasaray In Stunning Final Day
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Besiktas won the Super Lig from rivals Galatasaray via the slenderest of margins - by one goal on goal difference - in an incredibly dramatic final day of the Turkish league season.
All three of the major Istanbul sides had a chance to win the Super Lig going into the last round of games. Fenerbahce were two points back, but Besiktas and Galatasaray sat level on 81 points.
Galatasaray were actually winning the title after an hour, as they led 2-1 over Yeni Malatyaspor while Besiktas were drawing 1-1 Goztepe. However a 69th-minute penalty from Algerian winger Rachid Ghezzal - on loan from Leicester City - gave Besiktas a 2-1 win.
This is your day, boys. :heart:#FlyHigh pic.twitter.com/H3cQOQYXUW
- The Black Eagles :trophy: (@BesiktasEnglish) May 15, 2021
That meant Galatasay had to overhaul their rival's narrowly superior goal difference and they did score again, through Oculgan Caglayan, to triumph 3-1.
But that left Galatasaray on 84 points with a goal difference of +44, while Besiktas ended the season on 84 points with a goal difference of +45.
Besiktas are Super Lig champions by +1 goal difference
- International Champions Cup (@IntChampionsCup) May 15, 2021
:trophy::trophy::trophy: pic.twitter.com/OB5ogwMODA
Which was enough to win them the league - by the very closest of margins.
An amazing last day and - as you can imagine - the mathematical calculations were flying around, with both Galatasaray and Besiktas able overtake one another if they scored enough goals (and Fenerbahce poised to pounce if both teams somehow slipped up).
However the penalty from Ghezzal, plus an earlier goal from Croatian defender Domagoj Vida, proved enough to help the Black Eagles to their first Super Lig title since 2017.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
- The Black Eagles :trophy: (@BesiktasEnglish) May 15, 2021
!#ŞampiyonSensin ' #FlyHigh pic.twitter.com/ffhNvS21v3
And it could hardly have been any closer or more enthralling on a final day that will live long in the memory of Turkish football fans.
Game over, lads... https://t.co/NKbQdr0X2H
- The Black Eagles :trophy: (@BesiktasEnglish) May 15, 2021
Featured image credit: Twitter/Besiktas
Topics: Football, Super Lig, Galatasaray, Turkey, Besiktas
