Fenerbahçe gets only Turkish win on UEFA Europa League night
ISTANBUL
Fenerbahçe managed to get the only win among Turkish football clubs in the UEFA Europa League on Oct. 4, while Beşiktaş and Akhisar bowed to their opponents.
A brace from Algerian winger Islam Slimani against Slovakia's Spartak Trnava gave Fenerbahçe its first win in the tournament.
The Group D match at Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium saw a possession-dominating Fenerbahce side, but the Istanbul side was unable to break the deadlock in the first half despite forcing its opponent to defend.
The Yellow Canaries ended the stalemate in the 52nd minute when Trnava's goalkeeper Martin Chudy could not clear the ball in the six-yard box and Slimani used the opportunity to score from close range.
Fenerbahce increased its lead to 2-0 in the 68th minute when Slimani scored a header to Andre Ayew's cross from the left wing.
The 2-0 scoreline marked Fenerbahce's first win in Group D.
Malmo beat Beşiktaş 2-0
The second week of the UEFA Europa League concluded Thursday with 24 matches.
Sweden's Malmo beat Beşiktas 2-0 in their second match of the Europa League 2018-19 group stage.
In the Group I away match, Beşiktaş was the more composed side in possession, but loud chants by the home fans distracted the Black Eagles in the first half.
Malmo right-back Andreas Vindheim scored in the 51st minute as he whipped in a ball from the right touchline that appeared to deflect off Besiktas' Caner Erkin and snuck into Loris Karius' net. The Swedish side expanded its lead in the 76th minute as Markus Rosenberg scored from the penalty spot, with the match ending 2-0.
In the other Group I match, Sarpsborg defeated Genk 3-1.
Malmo had lost the opener 2-0 at Genk while Beşiktaş had defeated Sarpsborg 3-1 in their first match in the group.
Standard Liege beat Akhisar 2-1
Akhisar, another Turkish side competing in the Europa League, was beaten on Oct. 4 by Belgium's Standard Liege.
In Group J, Standard Liege midfielder Mehdi Carcela's corner from the left met the head of teammate Renaud Emond, who bounced a header past Akhisar's goalkeeper Fatih Özturk to open the scoring in the match.
Akhisar scored their first European league goal in the 32nd minute of the away match when Standard Liege goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa managed to save Yevhen Selezynov's header but could not hold it and Onur Ayık poked in the rebound.
But Standard Liege moved ahead again as Moussa Djenepo scored a goal in the 40th minute, with the first half ending 2-1.
The Turkish side was down to 10 men after Akhisar's Mustafa Yumlu received a second yellow card and was sent off in the 82nd minute. The match ended 2-1.
Akhisar lost 1-0 to Russia's Krasnodar in their UEFA Europa League debut while Standard Liege was beaten 5-1 at Sevilla in their first match in the group.
In the other Group J match, Krasnodar beat Sevilla 2-1.
The other results are as follows:
Group A: Leverkusen 4-2 AEK Larnaca, Zurich 1-0 Ludogorets
Group B: Rosenborg 1-3 Leipzig, Salzburg 3-1 Celtic
Group C: Bordeaux 1-2 Kobenhavn, Zenit 1-0 Slavia Praha
Group D: Fenerbahce 2-0 Spartak Trnava, Anderlecht 0-2 Dinamo Zagreb
Group E: Vorskla 1-2 Sporting CP, Qarabag 0-3 Arsenal:
Group F: Real Betis 3-0 Dudelange, Milan 3-1 Olympiacos:
Group G: Spartak Moskva 3-3 Villarreal, Rangers 3-1 Rapid Wien
Group H: Apollon 2-2 Marseille, Eintracht Frankfurt 4-1 Lazio
Group I: Malmo 2-0 Besiktas, Sarpsborg 3-1 Genk
Group J: Krasnodar 2-1 Sevilla, Standard Liege 2-1 Akhisar
Group K: Astana 2-0 Rennes, Jablonec 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv Group L: BATE 1-4 PAOK, Chelsea 1-0 Vidi