Beşiktaş Fight Back to 2-2 Draw in Rize: Late Goals Salvage Point in Crucial Title Race
- Farabin TV Sport
- May 15
- 3 min read
Çaykur Rizespor 2-2 Beşiktaş
Trendyol Süper Lig – Matchweek 34
Friday, 15 May 2026 – Çaykur Didi Stadium, Rize
Beşiktaş produced a resilient second-half comeback to earn a hard-fought 2-2 draw away at Çaykur Rizespor in a match that was full of drama, early goals and late excitement. The Black Eagles twice came from behind but ultimately had to settle for a point on the road against a dangerous home side fighting to avoid relegation trouble.
The result keeps Beşiktaş firmly in the race for European qualification, while Rizespor gained a valuable point in their battle to climb away from the lower half of the table. The game at the atmospheric Çaykur Didi Stadium was played in front of a passionate home crowd that created a difficult environment for the visitors.
Match Timeline & Goal Scorers
18' – Rizespor 1-0 Beşiktaş Ali Sowe gave the hosts the lead with a clinical finish. A quick counter-attack caught Beşiktaş’s defence slightly out of position, and the Gambian striker slotted the ball past Mert Günok from inside the box.
31' – Rizespor 2-0 Beşiktaş Just 13 minutes later, Ali Sowe doubled the advantage with his second goal of the night. Another swift break saw him latch onto a through ball and finish confidently past the goalkeeper. At this point, Rizespor looked in complete control and Beşiktaş appeared rattled.
55' – Rizespor 2-1 Beşiktaş Jota Silva pulled one back for the visitors shortly after half-time. A well-worked move down the right flank ended with the Portuguese winger firing a powerful shot into the far corner. The goal injected immediate energy into Beşiktaş and shifted the momentum.
62' – Rizespor 2-2 Beşiktaş Václav Černý levelled the score just seven minutes later. The Czech forward reacted quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area and smashed it home to make it 2-2. The equaliser sparked wild celebrations from the Beşiktaş bench and travelling fans.
The final half-hour was end-to-end, with both teams creating chances. Beşiktaş pushed hard for a winner, but Rizespor defended bravely and almost snatched a late victory on the counter. In the end, a draw was a fair reflection of an entertaining and open contest.
Tactical Analysis & Key Performances
Beşiktaş started slowly and were punished by Rizespor’s clinical counter-attacking in the first half. However, after the break, coach Sergen Yalçın’s changes (particularly the introduction of fresh attacking options) paid off. The visitors dominated possession in the second half and showed great character to fight back from two goals down.
Rizespor played with high intensity and took full advantage of their early opportunities. Their two-goal lead was well deserved at half-time, but they tired in the second half and struggled to contain Beşiktaş’s wide attacks.
Standout Players:
Ali Sowe (Rizespor) – Man of the match with a superb first-half brace and constant threat.
Jota Silva (Beşiktaş) – Scored a vital goal and was a constant menace on the wing.
Václav Černý (Beşiktaş) – Clinical equaliser and excellent movement in attack.
Mert Günok (Beşiktaş) – Made several important saves to keep his team in the game.
What This Result Means for the Süper Lig
With Galatasaray already crowned champions earlier in the season, the focus now is on the battle for European places. This draw keeps Beşiktaş on 62 points and maintains their position in 4th place.
Updated Süper Lig Standings (after Matchweek 34):
Galatasaray – 80 points (champions)
Fenerbahçe – 74 points
Trabzonspor – 68 points
Beşiktaş – 62 points
Göztepe – 53 points
The three points would have moved Beşiktaş closer to the top three, but the draw means the gap to Trabzonspor remains six points with four games left. Beşiktaş still have a realistic chance of finishing in the top four and securing at least Conference League football next season. However, they must win most of their remaining fixtures to keep pressure on the teams above them.
For Rizespor, the point was valuable in their fight against the drop, but they remain in a precarious position near the bottom half of the table.
The result keeps the European race very much alive heading into the final stretch of the season. Beşiktaş will now turn their attention to their next tough away fixture, knowing that every point counts in the battle for continental qualification.
By Elmira Mirzadegan
Published by May 15, 2026
