Fenerbahce clinch title as Besiktas slip up
ARTUR ZICO, become the third Brazilian coach to win the Turkish league with Fenerbahce.
May 13 (Reuters) - Fenerbahce clinched the Turkish league title for the 17th time on Sunday, drawing 2-2 at home to Trabzonspor while their Istanbul rivals Besiktas lost 3-0 at Bursaspor.

The victory left Fenerbahce on 64 points, six clear of Besiktas with two games remaining.

Fenerbahce have the better head-to-head record between the two teams this season so even if Besiktas were to win their last two games and Fenerbache lose theirs, Fenerbahce would still be champions under the Turkish league rules.Third-placed Galatasaray also drew, ending their chances of catching Fenerbahce.

The result was a major relief for the new champions, celebrating their centenary year, after Galatasaray snatched the title away from them in the final game of last season, frustrating Fenerbahce's hopes of a third successive title. Fenerbahce fans streamed out onto the streets of Istanbul near their stadium on the Asian side of the city, sounding klaxons, setting off flares and waving club flags at passing cars.

The club's Brazilian coach Zico, in his first season in charge, paid tribute after the match to his two compatriots, Didi and Carlos Alberto Parreira who coached Fenerbahce to the title in the 1970s and 90s respectively.Didi and Parreira opened Fenerbahce's doors to Brazilians and they both had a role in my success here," Zico said."We earned the title through working hard. The players believed in themselves and we had some difficult moments, but we overcame them," he said.

Fenerbahce suffered an early setback in Sunday's game when Huseyin Cimsir put Trabzonspor ahead in the second minute. Two minutes later striker Tuncay Sanli equalised only for Trabzon to regain the lead shortly before halftime.Fenerbahce's Brazilian playmaker Alex, who has played a key role in the club's success in the last few seasons, missed a penalty in the 75th minute. But with five minutes remaining his compatriot Deivid de Souza equalised with a header.