Beşiktaş beat Danish side Midtjylland 2-0 away in the return leg of the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. Having won the first leg 1-0 in Istanbul, the Turkish side advanced with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Goals arrived in the second half
The first half at MCH Arena in Herning finished goalless. Beşiktaş took control after the break and went ahead in the 70th minute through Milot Rashica. Orkun Kökçü doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 76th minute, converting a spot-kick awarded after İlhan Fakılı was fouled inside the box in the 74th minute. English referee John Brooks took charge of the match.
Hosts reduced to ten men
Midtjylland played the final half-hour with ten men after Martin Erlic was sent off in the 54th minute for a second yellow card. Beşiktaş made the most of the numerical advantage, seeing out the return leg without conceding and completing the tie without an away goal against them.
The hosts were also reduced in the first leg
A similar pattern played out in Istanbul, where Beşiktaş won 1-0 through an Orkun Kökçü goal in the 26th minute, while Midtjylland's Etim was sent off as early as the 15th minute. The two results combined give Beşiktaş a 3-0 aggregate win and a place in the next round.
Hradec Králové awaits
Beşiktaş will face Czech side Hradec Králové, who eliminated Norway's Tromsø in the previous round, in the third qualifying round. Founded in 1905 and competing in the Czech top flight known as the Chance Liga, Hradec Králové will host the first leg on Thursday, August 6, before the return leg in Istanbul on Thursday, August 13. Both matches will be broadcast live on S Sport and S Sport Plus.
Italiano: We need to be ourselves
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano had said before the Midtjylland match that despite holding the advantage, his side needed to stay focused, be smart and play their own game to create scoring chances. The Italian coach also brushed off suggestions that he rotates his starting lineup too often.
The score, goal timings and aggregate result were confirmed via UEFA's official match page along with match coverage from Fanatik and Habertürk.
