Galatasaray holds off Beşiktaş with penalty goal in lusterless Istanbul derby

ISTANBUL

Beşiktaş goalkeeper Cenk Gönen was knocked unconscious after receiving an involuntary kick from his teammate Pedro Franco. AA photo

Galatasaray prevailed against Beşiktaş with a single goal from a penalty, holding off its Istanbul rival in a rough and coarse derby game at the Türk Telekom Arena on Feb. 22.

The match was marked by the penalty awarded in the 38th minute, after a foul by Dany Nounkeou, who joined Beşiktaş on loan from Galatasaray during the winter transfer window. The penalty was converted by Galatasaray’s Selçuk İnan, triggering acid comments on social media about Dany’s unfortunate mistake against his old team.

For the remainder of the game, Roberto Mancini’s side was able to contain the visitors, who were seeking to sum a fifth consecutive win.

The game’s roughness was particularly on display in the 84th minute, when Beşiktaş goalkeeper Cenk Gönen received an involuntary kick from his teammate Pedro Franco during a Galatasaray offensive play, which knocked him unconscious for a few moments. Gönen, who himself had replaced the injured Tolga Zengin after the break, remained on the pitch despite being visibly shaken and was immediately transferred to the hospital after his condition worsened at the end of the game.

With the win, the Lions stole second place from Beşiktaş. Galatasaray is on 44 points, three behind Fenerbahçe ahead of the latter’s match away at Elazığspor on Feb. 23.

Beşiktaş coach Slaven Bilic’s men, meanwhile, saw their momentum hit yet again by Galatasaray, and sit third with 42 points. 

Galatasaray will play its Champions League round-of-16 game against Chelsea on Feb. 26.