Young gun paces Fenerbahçe to 2-0 win over Orduspor

ISTANBUL

Salih Uçan scored both of Fenerbahçe's goals. AA photo

Fenerbahçe overcame a slow start to post an ultimately routine 2-0 victory over embattled Orduspor thanks to a brace from young phenom Salih Uçan, as the Istanbul side kept themselves within touching distance of leaders Galatasaray.

Playing just three days after their emotional Europa League first-leg victory over Lazio, Fenerbahçe came out of the gate sluggishly and were immediately put on the back foot by an Orduspor side desperate for all three points to escape the relegation zone. The Black Sea outfit, however, was thwarted in the early going by Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Volkan Demirel and desperate defending.

But the Yellow Canaries began to find their feet and were soon finding chances of their own, even if they failed to make a breakthrough.

The side finally broke the deadlock in the 37th minute, when the impressive Caner Erkin turned his marker to feed the 19-year-old Salih, who slotted past Fevzi Elmas in the Orduspor goal.

The highly regarded midfielder then added his second of the match in the 57th minute, placing a deft lob just under the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area.

Ordu had chances to drag themselves back into the match, but were ultimately guilty of the occasional profligacy in front of Volkan’s goal.

With six rounds remaining, Fener remains four points behind Galatasaray, while Orduspor is three points away from Elazığspor, the last team above the drop zone.

Elsewhere, Trabzonspor appeared to sink back into the mire, as they fell 1-0 away to relegation-threatened Akhisar Belediye Gençlik following a determined strike by Greek marksman Theofanis Gekas. The Black Sea Storm had appeared to right the ship last week after beating Antalyaspor 2-0, but fell to the Aegean club to remain just five points above the drop zone. Akhisar drew level with Orduspor with the victory.

A day earlier, Galatasaray overcame a red card and the dismissal of its mercurial manager, Fatih Terim, as well as two of his assistants, to defeat Merdin İdman Yurdu 3-1 on the strength of two goals from Didier Drogba and another from Felipe Melo.

Bursaspor, who are chasing European football next season, will entertain third-placed Beşiktaş in the round’s final match tomorrow night.