Fener wins again, van Persie suffers eye injury

MANİSA

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Fenerbahçe won three golden points against Akhisar Belediyespor Nov. 6 to remain in the league race in a game in which its Dutch international Robin van Persie suffered an eye injury, with media reports criticizing officials for only allowing medical aid to arrive late.

Van Persie scored the opening goal it the 26th minute. But after colliding with a defender, the 33-year-old was stretchered off the pitch with a plaster covering his bloodied left eye.

However, the club insisted that van Persie had not been badly hurt.

“There was some blood in the pupil. After the first examination, we sent him to an ophthalmologist at the hospital,” said a club spokesman. “We have been told that the situation isn’t serious. He’s doing well.” 

Media reports said the Dutchman had to wait for 15 minutes for an ambulance to take him to the hospital, daily Hürriyet reported. 

Officials at Akhisar’s Manisa 19 Mayıs Stadium could not find the key for the gate that would let ambulances inside the facility out. Another ambulance from Manisa State Hospital came to pick up the striker who was waiting on the sidewalk outside, it said. 

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) denied the reports in a Nov. 7 statement, while admitting that it took time for ambulances to arrive because of a crowd outside the ground. 

“We got off lightly,” Fener medic Burak Kunduracıoğlu said. “We waited for the ambulance. The outcome could have been awful if it were something urgent.” 

Van Persie, whose eyelid was torn in the collision, received treatment in the hospital but no stitches were made. He then returned to the stadium in a taxi to join his teammates.

Fener, which made a historically bad start to the Spor Toto Super League, was well-motivated before the Akhisar game thanks to a UEFA Europa League win against Premier League giant Manchester United on Nov. 3 at home. 

Five minutes after van Persie’s goal, the home side’s Hugo Rodallega missed a penalty.

A goal from Fener’s Aatif Chahechouhe increased the cushion to two goals in the 65th minute before Akhisar keeper Fatih Öztürk made a deadly mistake in the 77th minute, letting a bouncing ball slip over the goal line. 
A last-minute goal from Akhisar’s Rodallega was merely academic in rounding off the scoring.

Following a national team break for FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers, Fener will take on third-place Galatasaray on Nov. 20 in a bid to surpass its city rival. 

The Lions lost 2-1 to the league’s surprise leader, Medipol Başakşehir, at home in the opening game of Week 10 on Nov. 4. 

Defending champion Beşiktaş continued its chase from two points behind when it won 2-1 against Trabzonspor at home. 

Alanya fans enjoyed a goal spree when their promoted team won 4-3 against league regular Gaziantepspor on Nov. 5. 

Kardemir Karabük and Bursaspor drew goalless, as Antalyaspor won 1-0 against Gençlerbirliği. 

Adanaspor, which drew 2-2 away with Çaykur Rizespor, will host Beşiktaş in the next match week. 

Ankara’s Osmanlıspor, which beat Spain’s Villarreal 2-1 away on Nov. 1 in the Europa League, drew 1-1 with Kayserispor.

After losing its chances of qualifying for the knockout round in Europa League Group H following a 3-1 loss against Braga on Nov. 3, Atiker Konyaspor was well-focused in the league to beat Kasımpaşa 2-1 on Nov. 6.