Tottenham vs. Besiktas: Score, Grades and Reaction from Europa League Game

Demba Ba scored a late equaliser from the penalty spot as visiting Besiktas held Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night in a UEFA Europa League Group C match at White Hart Lane.

Harry Kane had put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, but Ba—who previously played in England with Newcastle and Chelsea—levelled from the penalty spot one minute from time.

While Tottenham will view the result as two points lost, Besiktas will feel a draw was no more than they deserved. The Turkish side created numerous chances in both halves—outshooting Spurs 24-9, per WhoScored.com—with Ba and Sahan proving a handful for the hosts' defence all night.

In truth, it could have been worse for Spurs if not for the efforts of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who kept his side ahead with a string of fine saves before finally conceding Ba's penalty in the closing moments. 

The draw leaves both clubs on two points through two matches, two points behind leaders Asteras Tripolis, who defeated Partizan Belgrade 2-0 in Thursday's other Group C match.

Tottenham will have a chance to take Asteras down a notch on Matchday 3, with the Greek side set to visit White Hart Lane on Oct. 23.

Victory could see Spurs take over first place, pending the result of the Partizan-Besiktas match the same night.

Besiktas made a bright start to the match and could have taken the lead in the second minute. Pouncing on a giveaway in Spurs' half, Sahan burst through the box before shooting just wide of the far post.

It was a let-off for the home side, and another followed 10 minutes later. With the ball bouncing free in Tottenham's box, Ba took possession, turned and slammed the ball off the crossbar.

Spurs continued to be second best as the half wore on, but Mauricio Pochettino's side took the lead in the 27th minute with their first shot on target. Nabil Bentaleb took possession in middle, turned away from pressure and threaded a pass to Kane outside the box. Kane then powered into the box and finished low at the back post with his left foot.

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Besiktas should have equalised in the 33rd minute. Running free down the right, Jose Sosa played a fine pass across the face of goal. The ball evaded Ba, but Sahan was able to poke a shot on target at the back post. Sahan's effort seemed destined for the net, but Lloris saved impressively with his trailing leg to keep Tottenham in front.

Spurs improved from there, creating the better chances late in the first half. Kane headed over in the 36th minute before forcing a save two minutes later with a high shot from a tight angle on the right.

After the break, Andros Townsend curled a shot over the bar from distance in the 54th minute. Two minutes later, Lloris had to make another excellent save, pushing away Sahan's high drive after Besiktas had countered at pace.

Chances were coming at both ends by then, and Bentaleb dragged a shot wide of the far post in the 59th minute. Five minutes later, Sahan came close again with a spectacular overhead kick that spun narrowly off target.

Spurs could have made it 2-0 in the 71st minute after Davies picked out Kane along the edge of the box. Kane struck his shot sweetly but too close to Tolga Zengin, who saved.

Two minutes later, Besiktas substitute Mustafa Pektemek wasted a free header, nodding over the bar with his first touch after replacing Sahan moments earlier.

Lloris made another crucial save in the 76th minute, tipping over Ba's close-range shot after the striker deftly pulled down a lofted pass into the box. 

Besiktas kept pushing for an equaliser, seemingly to no avail. Ba headed over from a corner in the 86th minute. Two minutes later, though, the guests received a lifeline.

After misjudging a pass lofted into Tottenham's defensive third, Vlad Chiriches conceded a penalty when he handled the ball in the box. A minute later, Ba coolly put away the penalty to secure a point for the visitors.

Grades

Starting XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Hugo Lloris	7.5
Eric Dier	7.5
Vlad Chiriches	6.4
Federico Fazio	6.9
Ben Davies	6.8
Paulinho	6.4
Benjamin Stambouli	7.5
Nabil Bentaleb	7.0
Andros Townsend	6.9
Harry Kane	8.0
Roberto Soldado	6.5
Aaron Lennon (for Paulinho, 60')	6.1
Mousa Dembele (for Stambouli, 65')	7.1
Emmanuel Adebayor (for Soldado, 79')	6.0

Staring XI	Rating
Substitutes	Rating
Tolga Zengin	6.4
Serdar Kurtulus	6.8
Tomas Sivok	7.1
Pedro Franco	6.9
Ramon	7.3
Veli Kavlak	6.0
Gokhan Tore	6.4
Atiba Hutchinson	7.2
Jose Sosa	7.7
Olcay Sahan	6.4
Demba Ba	8.0
Oguzhan Ozyakup (for Kavlak, 65')	6.4
Mustafa Pektemek (for Sahan, 72')	6.6
Kerim Frei (for Tore, 82')	6.2

Post-Match Reaction