fenerbahçe shade it in enschede published: wednesday 2 december 2009, 21.45cet
diego lugano's second-half strike avenged a matchday 1 defeat as christoph daum's team cemented their place at the top of group h.
by derek brookman from fc twente stadium
fenerbahçe sk secured first place in the uefa europa league group h with a 1-0 victory at fc twente.
chances aplenty the first half saw chances at both ends, sander boschker making several good stops to keep the scoresheet blank, while kenneth perez twice came close for the hosts. in the second period roberto carlos's goalline heroics prevented a certain twente goal before diego lugano powered home the winner 19 minutes from time.
defiant boschker after a scrappy opening it was the visitors who had the first clear opportunity midway through the half, boschker saving daniel güiza's low shot with his legs; the keeper palming away a roberto carlos drive moments later. steve mcclaren's men finally threatened on the half-hour but bryan ruiz's effort was blocked by bilica.
perez close twice gökçek vederson saw his piledriver from fully 30 metres acrobatically kept out by boschker as the game opened up. yet the best chances fell at the other end, perez first firing over when clean through, then seeing his shot from outside the box cannon off the inside of the post just before the break.
lugano strikes the home side had a glorious chance on the hour, but somehow roberto carlos cleared ruiz's shot on the line. alex broke free but his chipped shot just cleared the bar from ten metres. the brazilian then saw his header brilliantly tipped wide by boschker, but from the resulting corner defender lugano rose to powerfully nod his side ahead.
fenerbahçe hold firm twente continued to press, and came desperately close when blaise nkufo hit the post with seconds remaining, but christoph daum's team progress to the round of 32 as group winners. the dutch side will guarantee the runners-up spot in two weeks' time with victory away to fc steaua bucureşti.
