Basaksehir stunned by Roma, still hopeful for last 32

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Italy's Roma beat Medipol Basaksehir 3-0 late Thursday, but the Turkish club have hope for the UEFA Europa League last 32.

Dictating the tempo of the game in Istanbul, Roma finished the job in the first half, scoring all of their goals.

French midfielder Jordan Veretout converted a penalty for Roma in the 30th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead.

Roma made it 3-0 near the end of the first half after consecutive goals scored by Dutch forward Justin Kluivert and Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko.

Former Basaksehir midfielder Cengiz Under played against his ex-club.

The Turkish star was a Basaksehir regular in the 2016-2017 season.

Basaksehir lost the match but the race for the round of 32 is still tight in the group.

After week 5, Borussia Monchengladbach from Germany top Group J with 8 points. Roma are in second spot with the same number of points while Basaksehir are in third with 7 points.

Austria's Wolfsberger were in last place with 4 points before the last games in the group.

Wolfsberger have been eliminated from the Europa League after a 1-0 loss to Monchengladbach in Graz.

In the next fixture on Dec. 12, Roma will take on Wolfsberger at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Basaksehir will visit Monchengladbach for the last 32 ticket.

Basaksehir should win against Monchengladbach in Germany to advance to the next round.

The top two clubs in each group will be in the Europa League round of 32.

- Besiktas beat Slovan Bratislava with late penalty

The other Turkish team in the Europa League, Besiktas, earned their first points with a 2-1 win against Slovan Bratislava in Istanbul.

Slovan Bratislava's Czech midfielder Erik Daniel scored the opener for his team in the first half.

But home team Besiktas came back 15 minutes before the final whistle as Chilean defender Enzo Roco equalized with a header.

In injury time in the second half, Serbian midfielder Adem Ljajic made it 2-1 for Besiktas with a penalty kick.

Ljajic's late winner ended the last 32 hopes of Slovan Bratislava.

Besiktas, who have been already eliminated from the competition, had 3 points in Group K led by Portugal's Braga, who earned 11 points in five matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers from England had 10 points.

Both Braga and Wolverhampton Wanderers clinched a spot in the last 32.

Slovan Bratislava had 4 points in Group K, waiting for their last match for a consolation.