Sparta leave it late to beat Besiktas

Sparta Prague 2 Besiktas 1

Sparta Prague captain Karel Poborsky netted a controversial late winner as the Czech champions played their way back into Group G contention with a hard-fought victory over Besiktas.

The Turks had appeared to have claimed a point when, following a goalless first half, Daniel Pancu's spot-kick cancelled out Lukas Zelenka’s strike minutes earlier.

But Poborsky popped up at the far post with six minutes remaining to stab the ball home.

Besiktas appealed furiously for offside but the goal stood to move Sparta on to four points alongside Lazio – two points behind Group leaders Chelsea.