Fenerbahce super-sub seals win

SUBSTITUTE Semih Senturk’s late strike lifted Fenerbahce to a 3-2 win in their Champions League last 16 first leg tie against Sevilla.

Sevilla, after coming from behind twice, looked to be heading for a valuable away draw only for Senturk to produce the 87th minute winner with his first kick since coach Zico brought him on for Mateja Kezman.

Kezman it was who put the Istanbul club into a 17th minute lead when the Serbian striker charged up unmarked to head home Ugar Boral’s perfect cross deep from the left flank past Sevilla stopper Andres Palop.

Sevilla were only trailing for a matter of minutes when Kezman’s teammate Edu’s attempt to clear Daniel Alves’ cross from the right ended in calamity, the Fenerbahce defender toeing the ball past his own keeper Volkan Demirel.

Fenerbahce had won all three home games in the group stage but their performances on the road were of concern as they failed to take a single point.

In light of that travel sickness Zico’s men came out for the second half intent on wrapping up a convincing win ahead of the second leg in Sevilla.

But it was Fenerbahce who scored first, theirs second goal set up by a corner taken by Alex with Uruguayan defender Diego Lugano leaping above the Sevilla defence to head the ball into the top of Palop’s net.

In a fast moving game, Sevilla pulled back level for the second time six minutes later. Julien Escude finished it off, firing into the roof of the net from close range after a corner.

Just as it looked as though Sevilla had earned a valuable away draw, Fenerbahce grabbed the winner when Senturk shot past Palop from the penalty area, the ball taking a minor deflection along the way.

FENERBAHCE: Demirel, Gonul, Edu Dracena, Lugano, Roberto Carlos (Wederson 68), Sahin, Boral (Kazim-Richards 78), Aurelio, Deivid, Alex, Kezman (Senturk 84).

SEVILLA: Palop, Daniel, Escude, Dragutinovic, Adriano Correia, Jesus Navas, Keita, Poulsen, Duda (Diego Capel 63), Luis Fabiano, Kanoute.

Ref: Florian Meyer (Germany).