Almeida double helps Beşiktaş past Maccabi

A Hugo Almeida double helped Beşiktaş JK get their UEFA Europa League Group E campaign off to a winning start at home to Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC.

Beşiktaş were ahead as early as the third minute courtesy of Almeida, who grabbed his second just before the half-hour mark. Roi Kehat fired the visitors back into the match immediately after the break, but two goals in quick succession from Mehmet Aurélio and Egemen Korkmaz put the game beyond the visitors before Edu completed the scoring.

Mehmet Aurélio created the first chance after three minutes, lofting a ball over the Maccabi defence for Almeida to lift perfectly beyond the onrushing Guy Haimov in the visitors' goal. Ricardo Quaresma produced a delightful cross with the outside of his right foot 25 minutes later and Almeida, timing his run to perfection, profited once again. His initial effort was well blocked by Haimov, but he headed in the rebound to double the lead.

The Israeli side had not won in four attempts against Turkish opposition and they never really threatened to do so in the first half, Yoav Ziv's low effort necessitating the only save Rüştü Reçber had to make. However, shortly after the restart they got themselves back in the game as Elran Atar's deep cross found Kehat, who forced his header in at the far post.

Mehmet Aurélio was the man Kehat out-jumped to score but the midfielder immediately atoned for his error. Manuel Fernandes fired a free-kick into the box which the 33-year-old steered into the net with a front-post header. Three minutes later, Beşiktaş ensured their first Group E victory when Quaresma's cross was met by Egemen Korkmaz's powerful diving header, and Brazilian substitute Edu completed the scoring two minutes from time.