Fenerbahçe defeats AEL Limassol in peaceful match amid flag row

ISTANBUL

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Fenerbahçe scored a late goal to beat AEL Limassol 1-0 in a Europa League match yesterday in Greek Cyprus although the match was more noteworthy for what failed to happen off the pitch. Tension had been growing for days over discussions on a ban on national flags in the stadium to prevent violence, but the match passed without incident.

Fenerbahçe's Egemen Kormaz put his team ahead with a goal in the 72nd minute of the match; the strike was the first time the Yellow Canaries had scored against a Greek Cypriot team.

The chairman of the AEL Limassol, Andreas Sofokleus, reassured Fenerbahçe fans on Oct. 22 that they would be able to unveil Turkish flags during the highly anticipated match following a denial of initial stories that the flag would be banned at the ground.

Fener moved into first place in Group C of the Europa League with seven points, three points ahead of both Olympique Marseille and Borussia Mönchengladbach. AEL is bottom of the group with a single point after three matches.