Beşiktaş overcomes high pressure to end winless streak

Beşiktaş finally ended its long winning drought on Saturday in a game that was marred with crowd troubles.

Rodrigo Tabata’s debut goal in Beşiktaş jersey gave the defending Turkcell Super League champion the win over Denizlispor 1-0.

Previously, the Black Eagles beat Antalyaspor 2-0 on Aug. 17, the date when Beşiktaş’s run of six games without a win started.

Beşiktaş supporters saw the Denizlispor game as a chance to voice their discontentment about the team’s performances and chanted slogans protesting Chairman Yıldırım Demirören. On the other hand, there were groups, which are assumed to be closer to the board, unfurling the banner, “Don’t forget two trophies from last year” to support the team and the board.

Throughout the game, there were several fights between two groups and the atmosphere did not make the things easier for Beşiktaş, coach Mustafa Denizli said.

“It doesn’t matter who those protests were against, but it is impossible for players not to be influenced by that,” said Denizli. “We had very nice days with our fans in this stadium, and we will have them again. But they should be with us when we need them,” he said.

“We need their support very much now,” said Denizli.