Senegalese forward Philippe Paulin Keny’s goal was not enough to secure victory for Istanbul Başakşehir, who were held to a 2-2 draw against Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League group stage. Despite taking the lead twice, the Turkish club saw their hopes for a first group-stage win dashed by a late double from Copenhagen’s forward, Chiakha, in a tightly contested match.
Başakşehir, who had endured a challenging start to the season with two previous defeats in the league phase, entered Thursday night’s match in Copenhagen determined to secure their first points.
Keny, making his mark in the European competition, struck first in the 26th minute.
The 24-year-old Senegalese striker seized the moment, netting his maiden European goal to put Başakşehir ahead and offering a glimpse of the team’s potential in attack.
The Turkish side maintained their lead through much of the game, fending off Copenhagen’s advances with disciplined defending.
However, in the 79th minute, Copenhagen finally broke through when Chiakha levelled the score, equalising with a well-timed finish that swung the momentum back toward the home team.
Just a minute later, Başakşehir responded with a powerful strike from Krzysztof Piątek.
The Polish forward found the net in the 80th minute, putting Başakşehir back in control and appearing to secure a long-awaited victory for the visitors.
Yet their hopes were short-lived, as Chiakha answered once again with his second goal of the night in the 83rd minute.
His double saw Copenhagen claw back to equal footing, leaving Başakşehir without the three points they had been close to clinching.
For Başakşehir, who have now gone seven matches without a win, the draw underscores a frustrating season so far.
Head coach Emre Belözoğlu will be eager to address defensive lapses that allowed Copenhagen to come back twice and ultimately denied Başakşehir the victory.
Keny’s promising performance, along with Piątek’s goal, offered encouraging signs for the Turkish side’s attack, but the team’s defensive struggles have become an ongoing concern as they seek to advance in the Europa Conference League.
The draw leaves Başakşehir still searching for their first win in this season’s European campaign, while Copenhagen will be buoyed by the resilience they displayed at home.
As the group stage continues, Başakşehir’s next outing will be crucial in determining whether they can keep their hopes alive and finally find the breakthrough they’ve been chasing.
