Fener jumps to second with win
ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News
Fenerbahçe’s Portuguese midfielder Raul Meireles celebrates after scoring a long-range effort against Gençlerbirliği in a Super League match. Meireles was on the scoresheet along with Moussa Sow, Dirk Kuyt and Sezer Öztürk.
Fenerbahçe rose to the second spot in the Spor Toto Super League after managing to rally from behind to crush Gençlerbirliği 4-1 on Nov. 25.The Yellow Canaries took over Medical Park Antalyaspor for the second spot after the victory. Defending champion Galatasaray leads the league with 25 points, while Fenerbahçe and Antalyaspor follow with 23 points. Fenerbahçe betters the Mediterranean team on superior goal difference.
On Nov. 25, Fenerbahçe extended its unbeaten streak to four matches, helping the team keep the pace with Galatasaray.
However, Fenerbahçe had to come from behind after the Istanbul giant allowed a goal by Aykut Demir to sneak by.
The Yellow Canaries leveled the score with just one minute to go till half-time when Moussa Sow coolly finished a well-timed pass by Dirk Kuyt in the penalty area.
The Senegalese forward is in a red-hot form lately and has seven goals in the Super League.
In the second half, Fenerbahçe found the lead and increased the difference in a space of 15 minutes.
Portuguese Raul Meireles found the net from a long-range effort well outside the box in the 63rd minute. Eleven minutes later, Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt shot the ball in after receiving the ball from Cristian Baroni. Sezer Öztürk made a similar finish in the 78th minute to make his debut score for Fenerbahçe in a league game this season to cap the scoring.
‘Good effort’
Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman said his team rose up to the game in the second half. “It was a difficult week, after Eskişehirspor and Marseille matches,” he said. “They started well but after we found the goal, we entered the game, even if it was a little late. In the second half, we upped our tempo. It was a good effort.”
Also on Nov. 25, Sivasspor beat Kayserispor 4-2 and Gaziantepspor defeated Istanbul BB in the Super League.
The 13th match day of the Super League campaign was wrapped up with the Trabzonspor vs. Eskişehirspor game yesterday.