Valencia, Spain, Feb 27: A last-gasp strike from Valencia defender David Navarro allowed his side to snatch a 3-2 win over Turkish champions Besiktas in their Uefa Cup third round, first leg at Mestalla.
The young centre-back sent his looping header into the top corner after substitute Fabio Aurelio had launched a free kick into the area in the fourth minute of injury time.
''It was a strange game,'' said Valencia coach Rafa Benitez. ''We had to fight back in the first half, almost lost it in the second and then ended up winning it. I'm not sure if we deserved it but you have to make the most of your chances.''
Besiktas looked set to earn a valuable away draw after a classy first-half double from Romanian midfielder Daniel Pancu had twice given his side the lead against the run of play.
Pancu's first came in the 17th minute when he cracked home after fellow countryman and former Valencia striker Adrian Ilie picked him out with a superb cross-field pass to complete a lightning counter-attack.



His second came after another quick break, this time he picked up the ball just inside the Valencia half, fended off three defenders and caught keeper Andres Palop off guard with a fine angled shot.



But Valencia were back on level terms within minutes on both occasions thanks to well taken goals from midfielders Mohamed Sissoko and Fabian Canobbio.



Sissoko rose high above the Besiktas defence to head home after a corner and Canobbio drilled in from the left-hand side of the area just before the break.



Besiktas spurned a great chance to take the lead after the break when midfielder Kaan Dobra Sliced wide of an open goal after picking up a rebound and it was Valencia who had the final say when Navarro popped up to score his injury-time winner.



''We lost concentration after the break,'' said Besiktas coach Mircea Lucescu. ''We didn't take our chances and will have to have more faith in ourselves when we play the return leg in Istanbul.''


Bureau Report