Leader Beşiktaş shoots self in foot in derby

ISTANBUL

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Turkish Super League leader Beşiktaş was forced to share the points with visiting archrival Fenerbahçe in an Istanbul derby on May 7 after the home side’s Marcelo headed into his own goal with the last play of the game.

The defending champion utilized its home advantage in the first half, harnessing the support of 40,000 spectators to increase the pressure on Fenerbahçe’s goal. 

The Black Eagles finally broke the deadlock at the end of the first half when striker Vincent Aboubakar beat goalkeeper Volkan Demirel following a cross from winger Ricardo Quaresma.

Aboubakar’s goal was the first conceded by Demirel in his last 10 derby matches.       

The second half saw more missed opportunities from Beşiktaş as Quaresma hit the post with a powerful strike that failed to give his team a 2-0 cushion.       

Things looked bleak for Fenerbahçe in the 88th minute when defender Martin Skrtel was sent off for a second yellow card. Midfielder Josef de Souza joined his teammate two minutes later when he also was shown a second yellow card.       

However, a miscommunication in defense for Beşiktaş gifted nine-man Fenerbahçe a goal in extra time as defender Marcelo and goalkeeper Fabricio attacked the same cross, resulting in a Marcelo header and an own goal.

The draw kept Fenerbahçe mathematically in the title race, increasing its points total to 57 with four matches to go.  
    
Beşiktaş climbed to 65 points, but its seven-point lead has been whittled down to just two points after second-placed Medipol Başakşehir beat Antalyaspor 1-0 on May 5 thanks to a last-minute goal.       

Galatasaray was mathematically eliminated from the title race following a loss against city rival Kasımpaşa on May 6, but retains a four-point advantage over Trabzonspor in the race for a Europa League spot. Elsewhere, Bursaspor suffered its third heavy defeat in a row on May 7 after falling 6-0 to Rizespor. The 2009-10 champions have now been outscored 16-1 in the last matches.