Mehmet Topal gives Fenerbahçe edge over Braga
Thursday, March 10, 2016
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Fenerbahçe 1-0 Braga
The Turkish Super League leaders racked up a 12th straight home win thanks to Mehmet Topal's 82nd-minute effort.
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- Mehmet Topal scores the only goal eight minutes from time
- The Turkish team are now eight games unbeaten in the competition
- Fenerbahçe claim 12th successive home win on all fronts
- Braga were runners-up to Porto in the UEFA Europa League in 2011
- The second leg is next Thursday, with the quarter-final draw the following day
Mehmet Topal once again came to the fore when Fenerbahçe needed him most in the UEFA Europa League as his late header earned a narrow first-leg win at home to Braga in the round of 16.
The defensive midfielder hit the only goal eight minutes from time, collecting the ball in midfield and advancing before rifling past Matheus. It repeated Mehmet's feat of the last round, when his late header sealed progress against Lokomotiv Moskva.
This was always going to be a tight game between two cautious sides: Fenerbahçe had conceded only twice in their last six UEFA Europa League matches; Braga's four away fixtures in the tournament before tonight had witnessed just five goals.
For much of the first half Fenerbahçe dominated but made few inroads into Braga territory. While Ozan Tufan had a long-range effort in the opening 60 seconds, it was another 37 minutes before the second shot on target. Braga were happy to cede possession and threaten on the break: Josué, Ahmed Hassan and Baiano all had decent opportunities.
Fenerbahçe continued to show greater urgency in the second period and finally managed to threaten the goal. They even found the net through Robin van Persie's tap-in on 54 minutes, though the Dutchman was flagged offside. Van Persie attempted to recreate his 2014 'Flying Dutchman' header eight minutes later, his effort going awry.
Even after Vítor Pereira introduced Nani with 25 minutes to go, a solid Braga line did not back down and they almost scored when Josué's fine long-range strike was brilliantly saved by Volkan Demirel, diving to his low right. It was Mehmet's cue as Fenerbahçe claimed a 12th successive home win and a crucial lead in this tie.
Who needs forwards anyway?
Van Persie is yet to score in the UEFA Europa League and Fernandão, Fenerbahçe's leading marksman, was on the bench all night. So it again came down to a midfielder to score. Six of the club's last seven goals in the competition have come from defensive players: Mehmet, Souza (twice), and Lazar Marković and Ozan.
Rock at the back for Fenerbahçe
Volkan, Fenerbahçe's long-standing No1 goalkeeper, has watched much of this season's UEFA Europa League from the bench, with Fabiano preferred. Demirel was called upon tonight, though, and duly delivered, showing great confidence whenever Braga threatened on the break.