On March 15, 2025, Konyaspor managed to pull off a stunning 1-0 victory against Beşiktaş at the MEDAŞ Konya Büyükşehir Stadium, even though they finished the match with only nine players on the field.
The match, part of the 28th week of Turkey's Süper Lig, saw Konyaspor's Uğurcan Yazğılı score the winning goal just before halftime, sending shockwaves through Beşiktaş, who were the clear favorites going in.
Beşiktaş, currently sitting fourth with 44 points, entered the match hoping to recover from their previous defeat against Gaziantep FK and build momentum before their upcoming derby against Galatasaray. Konyaspor, on the other hand, began the match 13th with just 31 points, desperate for any points to help their relegation battle.
The first half proved to be tense and highly competitive. Konyaspor initially took control, though they were soon put on the back foot due to the discipline shown by the referee Ali Şansalan. The troubles began for Konyaspor when Melih Bostan received his marching orders just after the half hour mark, receiving a red card after VAR review for a tackle on Paulista.
Despite their disadvantage, Konyaspor embraced the challenge and found the breakthrough minutes before halftime. After some quick thinking from Tunahan Taşçı, his right-side cross was met perfectly by Yazğılı, who scored with precision. The goal came at precisely 45 minutes, sending the home crowd wild.
Beşiktaş, stung by falling behind, fought fiercely to equalize but faced continued frustration. Moments later, they found themselves rattling the crossbar with Gedson Fernandes' powerful shot at 43 minutes, followed by another header from Alex Oxlade Chamberlain hitting the woodwork just before halftime.
The second half saw Beşiktaş attempt to press their advantage, but another red card swung the momentum. Alassane Ndao similarly found himself sent off after receiving his second yellow card, leaving Konyaspor with only nine players on the pitch.
Still, Konyaspor maintained their resilience, positioning themselves to defend against the onslaught of Beşiktaş attackers. Despite their efforts, Beşiktaş was consistent with their pressure. They had several chances to equalize, including shots from Masuaku and Immobile, but both were expertly kept out by Konyaspor's goalkeeper Deniz Ertaş.
Overall, Beşiktaş managed to maintain almost complete possession, supported by efforts from players like Gedson Fernandes who took several shots from distance, all thwarted by the steadfast Konyaspor defense. Deniz's heroics became the tale of the match, ensuring Konyaspor held on to their lead.
Even with Konyaspor down to nine players, the final minutes saw Beşiktaş continuing their relentless pursuit of goals but to no avail. The match ended, leaving Konyaspor to celebrate their unexpected yet hard-fought triumph amid standing ovations from their home supporters.
This match exemplified the unpredictability of football, highlighting how determination and teamwork can defy the odds. Konyaspor's victory not only earned them three precious points to continue their fight against relegation but also gave Beşiktaş much to ponder as they head toward the derby next week.
With Konyaspor elevates their tally to 31 points, they left the pitch victorious yet humbled by the experience they endured through the match. Beşiktaş needs to regroup quickly, as their next match promises to be even more challenging against their fierce rivals, Galatasaray.
Both teams showed moments of brilliance on the pitch, confirming yet again the depth of talent within Turkish football. For Konyaspor, the victory might just be the turning point they needed to shift their season's momentum.