Fenerbahçe knocks out Beşiktaş in tense game

ISTANBUL

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Fenerbahçe eliminated Beşiktaş in the Ziraat Turkish Cup last 16 late on Feb. 5 1-0 in a tense game marked by brawls.

The match on Beşiktaş’ home turf at Vodafone Arena saw the two Istanbul giants facing off with the hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals of the Ziraat Turkish Cup.  
   
The Black Eagles twice threatened to open the scoring toward the end of the first half, with Talisca and Oğuzhan Özyakup both coming close. 

The match turned in the 41st minute, however, after Fener’s Robin van Persie and Beşiktaş defender Dusko Tosic came into confrontation. The home side’s Serbian defender failed to maintain his composure, headbutting the Dutch forward. The referee ejected Tosic with a red card and gave van Persie a yellow for part in the incident, sparking a brawl between players.

Van Persie was protested by Beşiktaş supporters until the final whistle, with object flying to the pitch and a fan invading the pitch in the dying minutes of the game. 

The second half began with Beşiktaş attempting to limit Fenerbahçe’s attacks, but the cross-town visitors scored the match’s only goal in the 72nd minute when van Persie coolly finished a cross from Jeremain Lens.

Down a man, Beşiktaş failed to apply much pressure against Fenerbahçe, ultimately going down to defeat. 

Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş had an incident with Fenerbahçe players after the final whistle. Güneş was seen grabbing Fenerbahçe’s Danish player Simon Kjaer in the face, prompting reaction from Fenerbahçe players and executives.

There will be a new champion this year, meanwhile, after Galatasaray, the winner of the last three editions of the trophy, fell 2-1 to Başakşehir on Feb. 4. 

Fener is joined in the quarters as a seeded side by Konyapor, Başakşehir and Kasımpaşa, while the four unseeded winners from the Round of 16 will consist of Akhisar Belediyespor, Çaykur Rizespor, Kayserispor and Sivasspor – the last club from outside the top flight remaining in the competition.