Soccer

Lights go out on Tottenham’s top spot hopes

Besiktas top Group C thanks to Tosun goal on a night when floodlights failed twice in Istanbul

The crowd in the Attaturk Stadium in Istanbul lights up after the floodlights failed during Tottenham’s Europa League group C match against Besiktas. Photograph: Sedat Suna /EPA
The crowd in the Attaturk Stadium in Istanbul lights up after the floodlights failed during Tottenham’s Europa League group C match against Besiktas. Photograph: Sedat Suna /EPA
Thu Dec 11 2014 - 20:46

Besiktas 1 Tottenham 0

First the lights went out at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium and then on Tottenham's hopes of topping their Europa League group as Besiktas eked out a hard-fought 1-0 victory.

Both sides' place in Monday's last-32 draw was already secure ahead of a match which Mauricio Pochettino's side approached knowing anything but defeat in Istanbul would see them top Group C.

A decent performance from a much-changed side was not enough to secure them the desired result, though, as a Cenk Tosun goal gave Besiktas a 1-0 win on a night in which Spurs had to overcome play being suspended for the second successive Europa League match.

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Play was halted during last month's clash with Partizan Belgrade after three separate individuals encroached onto the at White Hart Lane pitch. It led to Uefa handing down a €15,000 fine just hours before this match, which lasted less than eight minutes before the floodlights failed at Besiktas' temporary home.

Spurs responded strongly to the impromptu break at the Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium, with Roberto Soldado having several chances, but their inability to find the net allowed Besiktas to go ahead in the 59th minute when Tosun turned home from close range.

Tottenham attempted to level against the Turkish Super Lig leaders but, after another break in play due to a floodlight failure in stoppage-time, the visitors’ 18-match unbeaten run in Europa League group matches came to an end.

In theory, it means Spurs will get a tougher draw at the last-32 juncture, as they will face a group winner or one of the best-performing Champions League dropouts — Olympiacos, Zenit, Sporting and Athletic Bilbao.