Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi scored his first European goal for Besiktas as the Turkish side drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace in a fiery Europa League encounter in Istanbul on Thursday night.

Besiktas were reduced to 10 men late in the match, but held on for a point after both teams had arrived following heavy domestic defeats. Besiktas had lost 2-0 to Trabzonspor, while Palace were beaten 5-0 by Brighton.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the second minute of first-half injury time. Salih Ozcan’s long pass released Ndidi, who raced through before firing beyond Palace goalkeeper Walter Benitez.

It was Besiktas’s first shot on target of the match and Ndidi’s first goal in European competition for the club.

Palace responded six minutes after the restart when Yeremy Pino converted Anan Khalaili’s low cross to make it 1-1.

The Premier League side then completed the turnaround four minutes later. Jean-Philippe Mateta reacted quickest to score his first goal since last season’s Conference League final and put Palace ahead.

Besiktas restored parity in the 73rd minute through Benin Republic international Junior Olaitan, who found the net to bring the score to 2-2.

The home side’s task became more difficult four minutes later when Umit Akdag was dismissed for a wild challenge on Jørgen Strand Larsen. The Palace forward was unable to continue and had to be substituted.

The result leaves Besiktas eighth in the 36-team league table with seven points. They will travel to Scotland to play Celtic on Matchday 4, while Crystal Palace will host Hoffenheim.

Elsewhere in the Europa League, AC Milan, without the injured Samuel Chukwueze, suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Bournemouth.

Nathan Tella came on as a substitute and Victor Boniface was not included in the squad as Bayer Leverkusen won 2-0 at OFI Crete.

Tochukwu Nnadi’s Marseille lost 1-0 at Sturm Graz, while Juventus recovered from going a goal behind to draw 2-2 with Rennes.