Kartal’s wild birthday party for the Black Eagles
The winds of the Turkish Cup blew black and white once again as Beşiktaş delivered a powerful statement, smashing Rizespor 4-1 and finishing at the top of Group C. At a time when the team has drifted away from the summit in the Süper Lig, the cup has taken on special meaning: it is both a gateway to European competitions and a chance to salvage the season with silverware and pride.
Under these circumstances, many expected a heavy rotation. With a heated Galatasaray derby looming on Saturday, the widespread assumption was that Sergen Yalçın would rest key players, protect them from injuries and suspensions, and treat the cup clash as a formality. That did not happen.
Instead, Sergen chose the opposite path. Staying loyal to his footballing philosophy, he underlined once again: “The most important match is always the next one.” Rather than sending out a cautious, minimalistic lineup aiming to protect a narrow 1-0, he built a team to dominate, to press, and to score in bunches. This intent was obvious from the first whistle, and the end result was a resounding win that never felt in doubt.
Fueled by good form, high morale, and the constant roar of their supporters, Beşiktaş effectively killed the contest in the first half. Rizespor tried to show some teeth early on, attempting to push the tempo and disrupt Beşiktaş’s rhythm, but the hosts quickly seized control of the ball, the territory, and the scoreboard.
The attacking tapestry was woven by a cast of players who complemented each other almost perfectly. Orkun took on the role of conductor, dictating tempo, finding gaps, and linking lines with calm authority. Murillo emerged as the primary executioner, his shooting ability turning promising attacks into concrete numbers on the scoreboard. On the right flank, Rashica’s relentless pace and direct runs constantly stretched the Rize defense, forcing them into uncomfortable positions and opening channels for his teammates.
In midfield, Salih’s experience acted as a stabilizing force. He read the flow of the game well, slowed it down when necessary, accelerated it when Beşiktaş smelled blood, and provided the know-how needed in high-stakes fixtures. At the tip of the spear, Hyun-gyu Oh embodied pure opportunism. Constantly on the move and alive to every loose ball, he capitalized on half-chances, turning them into full-blown threats and, ultimately, goals.
The final act of the evening belonged to Kartal Yılmaz, who closed the scoring and symbolically put the ribbon on what felt like a “birthday party” for the Black Eagles. His goal was more than just another number; it was a sign that this new-generation core of Beşiktaş players is beginning to find rhythm, confidence, and an on-field language of their own.
Behind Sergen Yalçın’s team selection lay a clear dilemma. On one side stood the strategic necessity of giving this relatively new group of players more minutes together so they could develop chemistry, automatism, and mutual understanding. On the other was the looming risk of injuries or red cards in a match played just days before a crucial derby. Yalçın made his choice in favor of team development and continuity – and the outcome proved him right.
He left the field having gotten everything he wanted: a clear win, first place in the group, an expanding unbeaten run, and a squad that looked more synchronized than it had weeks ago. The timing added extra flavor. The match coincided with the club’s 123rd anniversary celebrations, turning the evening into a double festivity – history honored off the pitch, and a dominant performance delivered on it.
For Beşiktaş supporters, it was the kind of night they dream about: a comfortable home victory, a clear statement before the Galatasaray clash, and an undefeated streak stretching to 17 matches. In a season where the league table has not always brought smiles, this sequence of positive results and performances has become a strong source of belief.
One of the most meaningful moments of the match did not come from a goal or a spectacular play, but from the stands. The supporters’ reaction to Ersin was notable. After a recent period of criticism and pressure, fans chose to applaud and lift him up, particularly following a sequence where, from the outside, his involvement might have looked like he was offering a “serve it on a plate” pass to Papanikolaou. Instead of turning on him, the stadium rallied around him, providing the moral support a young goalkeeper needs to regain confidence.
This attitude says a lot about the current climate around Beşiktaş. The bond between team and supporters has deepened during this unbeaten run. The crowd seems determined not just to celebrate the highs, but to protect and encourage their players through the lows and hesitations. In modern football, where goalkeepers and defenders can be crucified for the smallest error, this kind of loyalty can be a decisive intangible.
Murillo deserves a separate spotlight for his performance. His difference-maker role was evident all night: his positioning between the lines, his quick decision-making in the final third, and especially his finishing quality dragged Rizespor’s back line into chaos. Every time he received the ball facing goal, tension rippled through the visiting defense. Beyond the goals themselves, his presence forced Rize to defend deeper and wider, which in turn created more room for Rashica and Oh to operate.
Rashica’s high tempo on the right wing added a vertical edge that Beşiktaş has sometimes lacked this season. His constant sprints and aggressive one-on-ones prevented Rizespor’s full-backs from joining the attack, pinning them back and breaking their structure. That allowed Beşiktaş to recover possession quickly and keep the opponent under sustained pressure, a crucial element of Sergen’s game model.
On a tactical level, Sergen Yalçın’s insistence on fielding a strong XI sent a broader message, both to his own dressing room and to the rest of the league. By refusing to “save” players for the derby, he reminded everyone that Beşiktaş is a club that must compete for every trophy it can reach, not just pick and choose its battles. The internal competition for places is also intensifying; those who perform in the cup know they are giving their coach reasons to trust them in the biggest league fixtures.
The psychological impact of entering the Galatasaray derby on the back of such a comprehensive win cannot be overstated. Confidence in football is fragile yet invaluable. A fragmented, unconvincing victory might have left question marks. Instead, Beşiktaş gained clarity: key offensive players are in form, the creative hub is functioning, and the team can control the rhythm of knockout-type matches.
At the same time, this match reaffirmed the strategic significance of the Turkish Cup for Beşiktaş this season. With the title race in the league drifting away, the cup stands as a direct route into European competition and a realistic opportunity to put a trophy in the cabinet. Every convincing performance in this competition not only brings the team closer to that goal but also reinforces the culture of “must-win” games within the squad.
Another important dimension was the way newer or recently integrated players used this stage to solidify their place in the hierarchy. Footballers like Hyun-gyu Oh and Kartal Yılmaz are no longer just “promising options” – they are becoming reliable contributors. Their ability to step up in matches that truly matter gives Sergen more flexibility, more depth, and more tactical options for the crucial months ahead.
From a broader perspective, the 123rd anniversary backdrop endowed the game with symbolic weight. Beşiktaş’s long history is built on nights exactly like this: high-stakes fixtures, fervent support, and a team that plays with pride and ambition in black and white. For younger fans, the match offered a living lesson in what it means to carry that crest; for veterans of the stands, it was a reminder that the club’s identity is renewed every time the team performs with such intensity.
In pure football terms, the 4-1 against Rizespor was much more than a routine group-stage victory. It was an exhibition of a team finding its form at the right moment, a coach staying faithful to his principles, and a fan base that knows how to turn a midweek cup game into a celebration. If this was Kartal’s wild birthday party, then the biggest gift might not have been the goals themselves, but the message Beşiktaş sent: they are far from done this season, and they intend to fight for every last objective left on the table.