Fenerbahçe enjoys derby win, Galatasaray unable to break 16-year spell

ISTANBUL

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Fenerbahçe toppled its archrival Galatasaray 1-0 in the derby match in Turkey’s Spor Toto Super League on March 8, narrowing the gap in the league standings to one point behind the Lions, who still head the league.

Home side Fenerbahçe snatched win in the 81st minute, when veteran Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt found the net in a counter attack, but that was only after the Canaries missed several guilt-edge chances.

Its win at the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium meant that Fenerbahçe continued its dominance over Galatasaray in its home ground, where Fenerbahçe has been unbeaten against its archrival since 1999.

What’s more, Galatasaray’s Turkish international striker Burak Yılmaz, who narrowly missed a chance at the start of the game, and Hakan Balta will miss the team’s next game after picking up bookings.

With the win, Fenerbahçe moved to 50 points, one point behind leader Galatasaray on 51 points.

Galatasaray’s Dutch forward Wesley Sneijder had scored two goals in the last two minutes of his team’s home game against Fenerbahçe on Oct. 18 last year, giving the Lions a 2-1 victory. With its 1-0 home win, Fenerbahçe nudged ahead on goal difference, as the results between the two sides will determine the champion if the two sides finish the season on equal points.

Galatasaray is currently leading the league on goal difference, ahead of second-place Beşiktaş, which beat Sivasspor away in a tough match over the weekend.

Gençlerbirliği, which will host Fenarbahçe this weekend, prepared by beating SAI Kayseri Erciyesspor 4-2. The defeated Central Anatolian side visits Beşiktaş on March 15.

Istanbul Basakşehir and Torku Konyaspor drew 0-0, and the latter will face Galatasaray later this week.

Eskişehirspor and Bursaspor also could not break the deadlock, while on March 7 Balıkesirspor and Çaykur Rizespor draw 2-2.

Kasımpaşaspor, another Istanbul team, draw 2-2 against Akhisar Belediyespor in the opening game of the weekend on March 6.