Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
23 August 2017•Update: 23 August 2017
By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun
ANKARA
It was only the width of a goalpost which prevented Istanbul’s Medipol Basaksehir from making it to the Champions League group stages on Tuesday.
Sevilla eliminated the Istanbul side on a 4-3 aggregate score after Basaksehir midfielder Emre Belozoglu's 90th minute free-kick came off the woodwork, costing the club what would have been a memorable away victory at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
Basaksehir started the match at a fast pace, finding the net in the 17th minute from first-leg scorer Eljero Elia. The Dutch winger slid in Junior Caicara's low ball to give Basaksehir the lead.
The second half was to be a different story, as Sevilla equalized and gained the upper hand when Sergio Escuredo brushed aside his marker to score a header in the 52nd minute.
The La Liga side then took a commanding lead in the 75th minute with Wissam Ben Yedder's low driven shot beating Basaksehir goalkeeper Volkan Babacan after a counter-attack.
Basaksehir increased their tempo in the last 10 minutes before Edin Visca restored the Istanbul club's morale when he crashed home a powerful shot in the 82nd minute.
But Basaksehir’s last-minute heroics were not enough as Sevilla managed to draw 2-2 and move on to the group stages.
Basaksehir will continue their European campaign in the UEFA Europa League.
Champions League draw will be made on Thursday, while Europa League draw will take place on Friday.
