Besiktas secured their place in the UEFA Conference League play-offs Thursday night after a dramatic 3-2 home victory over St. Patrick's Athletic, advancing 7-3 on aggregate despite an early shock at Dolmabahce Stadium, APA reports citing Türkiye Today.
Early penalty puts visitors ahead
The Turkish giants entered the second leg with a commanding 4-1 advantage from Dublin but found themselves in unexpected trouble when the Irish visitors scored twice in the opening 34 minutes through a third-minute penalty and a strike from Ryan McLaughlin.
Conor Carty converted the early penalty after VAR confirmed a handball by Gabriel Paulista, before McLaughlin doubled the visitors' lead with what match reports described as a "brilliant shot."
The hostile home crowd began whistling their own team as St. Patrick's threatened to complete an unlikely comeback that would have eliminated Besiktas from European competition.
