Jean-Philippe Mateta scored his first goal since last season’s UEFA Conference League final but Crystal Palace had to settle for a 2-2 draw away at 10-man Besiktas.
Mateta thought he had opened the scoring with the first chance of the match when he swept home in the fifth minute, only for VAR to intervene and rule the striker had strayed marginally offside.
Besiktas took the lead against the run of play when Wilfred Ndidi rifled in on the stroke of half-time with Besiktas’ first shot on target.
But Palace equalised six minutes after the restart when Pino got on the end of Anan Khalaili’s cutback to sweep in. The flag went up for offside, but this time VAR intervened in Palace’s favour with the visitors drawing level.
And four minutes later they went ahead after Mateta intercepted a loose back pass before striding into the area and smashing home into the roof of the net.
But Besiktas were back level in the 73rd minute when substitute Junior Olaitan shot low and hard and into the corner.
Umit Akdag was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Jorgen Strand Larsen, before the striker went off injured late on, as Besiktas held on for the draw.
Key moments from the Vodafone Arena…
5: GOAL DISALLOWED! Mateta sweeps home with the first chance of the game but VAR rules that he was offside.
13: CLOSE! Wharton gets to the byline and his cross flashes across goal and just evades Mateta in the Besiktas area.
18: CHANCE! Oh gets across his marker at a corner but he glances his header just over.
30: SAVE! Mateta has an effort at goal from a corner, which is well-saved by Nubel.
45+1: GOAL! Ndidi smashes home on the stroke of half-time to give Besiktas the lead against the run of play.
51: GOAL! Pino sweeps home but the whistle goes for offside! VAR takes a look and the goal is given!
55: GOAL! Mateta produces an emphatic finish with his first goal since the UEFA Conference League final!
73: GOAL! Substitute Junior Olaitan Besiktas fires in an equaliser to bring Besiktas level!
78: RED CARD! Umit is sent off for Besiktas after a two-footed lunge on Strand Larsen!
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