Deivid leads Fenerbahce

Photo: (Reuters)

Fenerbahce 1- 0 Inter Milan

Fenerbahce made a glorious return to the Champions League on Wednesday night with a hard-fought victory over Internazionale.

The Turkish champions, who did not participate in the competition last season, secured victory thanks to Deivid's stunning first-half volley.

The Brazilian forward capped a stirring performance by scoring his first goal in Europe's elite competition at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

The Italian champions had to do without seven players through injury and suspension for their opening Group G encounter and they struggled against a determined home side.

Inter can even count themselves a touch fortunate not to have suffered a more convincing defeat with Nerazzurri keeper Julio Cesar in fine form.

It was the Italians who had the first chance of the game early on, however, Zlatan Ibrahimovic firing wide of the near post.

The hosts replied with Deivid's powerful header which forced Julio Cesar to palm the ball over the bar.

The Nerazzurri surged forward again and could have broken the deadlock midway through the first half had Onder Turaci not got in front of Sweden international Ibrahimovic to clear for a corner.

On the half-hour mark, former Inter full-back Roberto Carlos warmed the hands of Julio Cesar with a stinging drive which the keeper palmed over.

At the other end, David Suazo missed a golden chance to break the deadlock after Ibrahimovic's pass sliced Fenerbahce's defence wide open and found the Honduran striker but his shot was weak and easily saved by goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

It proved costly for Inter as shortly after, Fenerbahce took the lead.

Alex's cross from the right found an unmarked Deivid whose acrobatic volley found the roof of the net, much to the joy of the home fans.

Inter were determined to find the equaliser after the re-start and they almost got it, but Ibrahimovic's close-range effort deflected off a defender for a corner.

But that is as close as Inter got as Fenerbahce began to move forward with ruthless precision.

Roberto Carlos twice had the opportunity to score against his old employers but his powerful free-kick was saved by Julio Cesar while shortly after, his left-footed strike from inside the area hit the post.

Inter continued to struggle and they almost conceded a second on 66 minutes, with Alex's diving header being met by a stunning one-handed save by Julio Cesar.

With 20 minutes remaining, Hernan Crespo replaced Suazo as the Italians desperately tried to breach Fenerbahce's well-marshalled defence, but despite a late rally they were unable to avoid defeat.


Teams:


Fenerbahce Demirel, Turaci, Lugano, Edu Dracena,Roberto Carlos, Baris, Alex, Aurelio, Wederson,Kezman (Senturk 67), Deivid.


Subs Not Used: Babacan, Cakmak, Kazim, Sahin, Boral, Gonul.


Booked: Turaci, Lugano, Deivid.


Goals: Deivid 43.


Inter Milan Julio Cesar, Zanetti, Rivas, Samuel, Maxwell,Stankovic, Dacourt (Jimenez 70), Cambiasso, Solari (Figo 58),Suazo (Crespo 72), Ibrahimovic.


Subs Not Used: Toldo, Esposito, Bolzoni, Puccio.


Booked: Ibrahimovic, Samuel, Jimenez.


Att: 50,000


Ref: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain).

Watch Marseille 2 - 0 Besiktas

Second-half goals by Julien Rodriguez and Djibril Cisse gave Olympique Marseille a 2-0 win over Besiktas in their Champions League Group A opener on Tuesday.
Centre back Rodriguez poked the ball home in the 76th minute after a Samir Nasri corner kick hit the far post and France striker Cisse wrapped up the win in injury time to earn the Ligue 1 side their first home victory of the season.

Albert Emon's side dominated throughout and were barely bothered by a feeble Besiktas side.

Marseille, who won the Champions League in 1993, lead their group after five-times champions Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw at Porto.

'We're feeling better. The Champions League is such an important competition,' Emon told reporters.

'We put our Ligue 1 problems behind us. This game is a boost for our confidence. The players have been strong from the first to the last minute.'

Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam added: 'We did not create enough chances and we lacked some luck. Marseille played roughly and the referee was not severe enough.'

Serdar Kurtulus and Ricardinho were both replaced in the first half with suspected injuries following rough tackles.

Marseille started brightly, with Senegal striker Mamadou Niang a permanent threat to the Besiktas defence, but proved too clumsy in front of goal.

Cisse had the clearest chance in the 11th minute but his attempt was blocked by Hakan Arikan.

The Besiktas goalkeeper pulled a superb save seven minutes into the second half when he tipped a Karim Ziani shot over his bar.

Marseille next travel to Anfield, where no French club has won, while Besiktas host Porto.

Marseille v Besiktas: Preview

Marseille coach Albert Emon knows his job is on the line as he prepares his troops for Tuesday's opening Champions League Group A encounter with Besiktas.

OM have made a sluggish start to the new Ligue 1 campaign, with just one win in eight outings leaving them hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone having been touted as title candidates in pre-season.

A win against Besiktas would go a long way towards easing the early-season jitters at the Cote d'Azur club, and give Emon some breathing space after club president Pape Diouf hinted that he may ring the changes unless there is an upturn in form.

Diouf told www.om.net: 'Should the moment come that I feel the only way out is to effect changes among the staff, I will do so without seeking anyone's permission.'

However, the OM supremo added: 'Albert Emon will be at the helm against Besiktas.'

A home defeat to Toulouse at the weekend has dampened spirits yet further in the Marseille camp, but Emon is adamant he is going nowhere.

'I'm not throwing in the towel,' he said. 'I'm moving forward. I'm not sure where to, but I'm going to keep moving forward.'

Victory against last season's Turkish Super Lig runners-up would be a huge fillip for the embattled coach, who is determined to enjoy the challenge of Champions League football.

'The Champions League is a party,' Emon told www.om.net. 'The club wanted so much to get there and now here it is. We're preparing well, we fought for 12 hard months last year to get here.

'This Besiktas game could be the moment when we lift our heads again. We'll see how the competition gets under way. It could be a good back door for us in terms of the problems we've been experiencing.

'We need to free ourselves up, so we're throwing ourselves into this competition that can do us a lot of good.'

However, the former France international believes that Besiktas will be no pushovers, and has called on his team to perform to their best.

'They are a good side with some Brazilians and some very technically talented players,' Emon continued.

'They play hard and never give up. They'll come here looking to really play. We need to be completely focused and really rise to the challenge.'

The OM coach will be boosted by the return to the line up of captain Lorik Cana, who missed the weekend defeat to Toulouse through suspension.

Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam has named a 21-man travelling party for the first leg at the Stade Velodrome, which includes experienced goalkeeper Rustu Recber, a summer signing from city rivals Fenerbahce.

The Istanbul outfit, who are competing in the Champions League for the first time in four seasons, will be without the suspended Ali Tandogan and the injured Gokhan Zan.
Source:PA

UEFA Executive Committee meeting in İstanbul

UEFA Executive Committe is going to gather in İstanbul on 26 and 27 September. Turkish Football Federation will host the 2 day event that take place in Çırağan Palace. UEFA President Michel Platini, Vicepresidents Şenes Erzik, Geoffrey Thompson, Angel Maria Villar Llona, Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder and Marios N Lefkaritis, committee members Dr. Franco Carraro, Dr. Viacheslav Koloskov, Dr. Gilberto Madail, Dr. Joseph Mifsud, Per Ravn Omdal, Mircea Sandu, Drs. Mathieu Sprengers and Gregory Surkis will participate the meeting. UEFA Honorary President Lennart Johansson and UEFA General Secretary David Taylor will also be present.

The meeting will start on 26 September at 14.00. On 27 September by noon the meeting will end and there will be a press conference at 12.15. At 14.00 o'clock UEFA and Turkish Football Federation will sign for Turkey's Grassroots Charter membership.
Source:Tff

Emre apologizes for press box hand gesture but, apology did not excepted by Turkish media!

Newcastle United midfielder Emre has issued a public apology after a launching a furious tirade at the Turkish media. The 27-year-old made hand gestures and shouted towards the press box after his country's first goal in their 3-0 Euro 2008 qualifier victory over Hungary in Istanbul on Wednesday evening. Reports from Turkey suggest he had been angered by criticism of national coach Fatih Terim following the 2-2 draw with Malta, as well as stories linking him with a move back to Galatasaray.

Emre said: 'This action was not for everybody, but only one person in the Press - he knows it.'

The former Inter Milan star returned to Tyneside with a knee injury which is likely to keep him out of Monday night's Premier League trip to Derby.

"BAD BOY" EMRE BELEZOGLU STILL BAD BOY!...

PHOTO:Aksam Turkish daily news paper
THIS TIME TURKISH MEDIA!...THIS ONE IS FOR SOMEONE FROM PRESS BOX IN THE TURKEY V HUNGARY MATCH

YOU DECIDE !...IS THIS A BAD CALL BY REFEREE STUART DUAGAL...

When the bias ATV TV channel broadcast the match in Turkey, they did not show the reverse angle, like here in this footage!.... Ladies Gentleman, It is absurd....clearly, referee Stuart Duagal, was out of posision and a player was blocking his view..at the very end of the play, he saw, Zoltan Gera, falling down...that was no fake fall!....actually our keeper Hakan Arikan got a piece of him...watch it Turkiye!...
You were zap by ATV!....Nice going ATV for absurd job!....You fooled all the turkish soccer fans!,

AHMET TURGUT
WWW.TURKISHSOCCER.COM