Beşiktaş faced Konyaspor on the road during the 28th week of the Trendyol Süper Lig, holding great expectations following their recent struggle. Yet, they stumbled again, losing 1-0 on March 15, 2025, to a Konyaspor team which played the latter part of the match with just nine men.
The match kicked off at the MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadium under the supervision of referee Ali Şansalan. The game set the tone early on as Beşiktaş struggled against Konyaspor’s defensive setup. Despite holding superior possession and creating chances, they were unable to find the net.
Things took a turn for the worse for Konyaspor when Melih Bostan was sent off with a red card after just 27 minutes, reducing the home team to 10 men. Beşiktaş, expected to capitalize on this player advantage, could not convert their control of the match to meaningful scoring opportunities. The scoreboard changed against them when Konyaspor scored in the dying moments of the first half; Uğurcan found the back of the net at the 45th minute, and the score stood at 1-0 as teams headed to the locker rooms.
The second half saw Konyaspor’s woes deepen as Alassane Ndao received his second yellow card, getting ejected from the match 20 minutes later, leaving Konyaspor with only nine players. Even with this clear numerical advantage, Beşiktaş couldn’t breach the resilient Konyaspor defense, failing to register significant threats.
Nihat Kahveci, evaluating the match post-game on his Kontraspor YouTube channel, expressed his dismay at Beşiktaş's performance against Konyaspor, who were down to nine players. “By the 94th minute, Rafa Silva—you’re a great player, but why attempt a rabona? Show some urgency! Your striker, Immobile, only got his first shot off the whole match at the 74th minute against nine men!” he critiqued. Kahveci’s disappointment reflected the sentiments of many fans and analysts alike.
Beşiktaş had their moments, with several shots heading toward the Konyaspor goal, yet the likes of Gedson Fernandes tested the Konyaspor goalkeeper Deniz. They hit the woodwork and had various opportunities thwarted by the resilient defense.
This defeat marks another chapter of frustration for the Beşiktaş squad as they face increasing scrutiny over their inability to convert chances under pressure. The loss compounds their issues, as they fell to 44 points after this match; they had previously lost against Gaziantep FK, which raised concerns about the upcoming Galatasaray derby. Four players from Beşiktaş, including Mert Günok and Ciro Immobile, found themselves at risk of suspension due to their yellow card status.
The defeat prompted strong reactions across social media where fans voiced their displeasure over the team's performance. Many called on the management to reevaluate player selections and the overall strategy moving forward, stressing the need for aggressive reforms heading toward the closing matches of the season. With their next challenge looming against Galatasaray, pressure mounts on the squad to demonstrate adaptability and resilience.
Beşiktaş and Konyaspor faced off for the 48th time; historically, Beşiktaş has dominated this fixture with 27 wins to Konyaspor's 6, marking them as heavy favorites going. The rivalry has seen some surprising results, and Konyaspor's latest victory leaves Beşiktaş chasing their former form.
Despite expectations for Beşiktaş to secure three points, their inability to adapt to the reduced opposition underscored the persistent issues plaguing the team. Their coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, had previously expressed hopes for improvement and swift adaptation, but as the matches roll on, fans wonder when they will see the expected return to form. The upcoming matches will test their mettle as they seek to regain momentum and restore fan confidence.
With Beşiktaş struggling to find their footing against Konyaspor, the urgency to address the team's shortcomings becomes ever more evident as they prepare for the next fixture on their calendar. Will they rally and reclaim their momentum as the season progresses? Only time, and perhaps some tactical adjustments, will tell.