Fenerbahçe dishes out drubbing to sworn rival Trabzonspor

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

With the win, Fenerbahçe moved into second spot in the Spor Toto Super League standings with 37 points. AA photo

Fenerbahçe swept aside Trabzonspor’s meek challenge tonight, flooding the home side’s net with goals in a 3-0 win as a Black Sea deluge inundated the field.

The fixture has developed much animosity between both teams in recent years, not least because of the 2010-2011 match-fixing case, as well as accusations of racism in matches last year.

Despite the rivalry, there was little balance on the pitch, as Fenerbahçe easily dispatched the Black Sea Storm with a display that mirrored their respective league positions. Fenerbahçe could have taken the lead within 30 seconds, but the Yellow Canaries’ Moussa Sow failed to find a way past Trabzon stand-in goalkeeper Onur Kıvrak on a partial break.

Trabzonspor appeared to take the lead in the seventh minute after Polish international Adrian Mierzejewski lobbed an out-of-position Volkan Demirel from well out, only to see the ball cleared off the line. Television replays, however, show that the ball might have crossed the line, raising the prospect of a domestic debate on video review.

Fenerbahçe then quickly put their stamp on the game, forging ahead in minute 11 when Trabzon defender Sol Bamba put through his own goal following a cross from Dirk Kuyt. The Ivorian was the unlucky man again 15 minutes later when Brazilian midfielder Cristian Baroni’s shot deflected off him, sailing into the goal over Onur.

Fenerbahçe defender Gökhan Gönül made sure of the points in the 52nd minute, converting a well-taken volley behind Onur.

Trabzonspor had opportunities to cut into the deficit in the second half, but failed to find the mark on a pitch that increasingly came to resemble a mud pit.

Fenerbahçe was accused of rigging matches to pip Trabzonpor to the title in 2011. Although the Yellow Canaries were eventually declared innocent, Trabzonspor fans have long demanded that the title be handed to them. Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe’s Emre Belözoğlu was accused of racially abusing Trabzon’s Didier Zokora in an April 15, 2012, match, fomenting new anger. Emre is currently facing two years in prison for the alleged slur.

With the win, Fenerbahçe moved into second spot in the Spor Toto Super League standings with 37 points, six behind leader Galatasaray. Trabzonpor, however, sank further into trouble, remaining stuck on 27 points, seven off a European place.

Elsewhere, Gençlerbirliği solidified its place in mid-table with a 3-1 home win over Mersin İdman Yurdu, while Orduspor had to settle for a 2-2 draw at home with Istanbul BB after conceding an 86th-minute equalizer.

Elazığspor, meanwhile, failed to gain ground in its fight against relegation, falling 1-0 away to Bursaspor. The team remains four points adrift of safety after Gaziantepspor, who is the last team above the drop zone, stole a point away to Beşiktaş on Feb. 16 with an 89th minute goal despite playing a man down for most of the second half.