beşiktaş put one over sheriff published: thursday 2 august 2007, 0.25cet
beşiktaş jk 1-0 fc sheriff
ibrahim toraman gave a new-look beşiktaş the lead but the moldovan team are far from out of the tie.
by yakir mizrahi from istanbul
beşiktaş jk defender ibrahim toraman headed his team to a 1-0 second qualifying round first-leg victory against stubborn moldovan visitors fc sheriff.
revamped beşiktaş the 2006/07 turkish runners-up have played in the uefa cup group stage for the last three seasons but are aiming to reach the uefa champions league proper after a four-year absence. their ambition was shown by the fielding of four new signings - goalkeeper rüstü reçber, wingers rodrigo tello and mehmet yozgatlı plus french midfielder edouard cissé - as well as academy products serdar özkan and ibrahim kaş in a revamped lineup under new coach ertuğrul sağlam. however, for 75 minutes sheriff custodian serghei pascenco kept beşiktaş at bay before toraman struck.
winner matias delgado and ibrahim üzülmez were the most dangerous players for beşiktaş in the first half, but the former was denied by a fine pascenco save on 35 minutes before the goalkeeper also frustrated tello moments from the break. batuhan karadeniz, aged 16, came on for delgado in the second half but sheriff were holding on when ricardinho's corner was turned in by toraman. aleksei kuchuk nearly grabbed an away goal three minutes from the end but the reliable rüstü proved equal to the shot. sheriff, who have fallen at this stage for the last six seasons, are far from out of the tie ahead of the return a week tonight.
