Abraham scores hat-trick as Besiktas beat St Pat's

Former Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham scored a first-half hat-trick as Besiktas beat St Patrick's Athletic 4-1 in their Uefa Conference League third qualifying round first-leg tie in Dublin.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's visitors were rampant in the first half with Joao Mario opening the scoring after eight minutes.

Abraham, who has 11 England caps, then scored a 29-minute hat-trick to give the Turkish side a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

Simon Power pulled one back for League of Ireland St Pat's early in the second half, but they have a mountain to climb in the second leg in Istanbul in seven days' time.

The winner of the tie will meet the victors between Lausanne and Kazakhstan's Astana in the play-off round, with the Swiss club 3-1 ahead after the first leg.

Any local optimism in Dublin was quashed after just eight minutes as Portugual midfielder Mario's effort from just outside the area was deflected past Joseph Anang in the Pats goal.

The visitors doubled the lead six minutes later as Jonas Svensson's cross from the left was bundled home by Abraham.

The 27-year-old English striker was causing the Irish side real problems and he grabbed his second on 23 minutes, when Mario turned provider and played the Abraham through before he dinked over Anang to extend their lead.

The former Chelsea and Roma striker completed his hat-trick two minutes before the break from the penalty spot.

St Pat's, managed by former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny, refused to throw in the towel and pulled a goal back three minutes into the second half as Power beat Mert Gunok at his near post.

The Dublin club could have got a second minutes later as Tottenham-bound striker Mason Melia showed quick feet to work some space but had his effort saved by Gunok.

Despite a stronger second-half showing, the Saints could not add a second goal, leaving them needing a minor miracle to progress beyond next week's second leg in Istanbul.