1 red card, 3 injuries: Critical victory for Fenerbahçe against Başakşehir

Fenerbahçe hosted Başakşehir at Ülker Stadium in the 16th week of the Süper Lig. Looking to find morale after consecutive defeats in Europe and the league, the yellow-navy blues secured a critical 3-1 victory.

FENERBAHÇE DOMINANCE IN THE FIRST HALF

Fenerbahçe displayed a dominant performance in the first half of the match. The home team took the lead with a stylish strike from Edin Dzeko in the 42nd minute and gained an advantage in the 45+1st minute when Başakşehir's Ba was shown a red card following a VAR review for his challenge on Dzeko.

EN-NESYRI DOUBLES UP

Although Başakşehir equalized with a goal from Piatek in the 59th minute of the second half, Fenerbahçe regained the lead. The yellow-navy blues went ahead again with a header from Youssef En-Nesyri in the 74th minute, and extended the lead to two in the 89th minute with another header from En-Nesyri.

INJURY CRISIS

Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Livakovic, winger Oğuz Aydın, and center-back Becao were unable to continue the match due to injuries. These injuries cast a shadow over the joy of the victory.

With this result, Fenerbahçe increased its points to 35, maintaining the gap with Galatasaray. Başakşehir remained at 22 points.

MATCH MINUTES

In the 3rd minute, following an errant pass by Deniz Dilmen, Amrabat attempted a first-time shot at the empty net from the middle of the opponent's half, but the ball went wide.

In the 22nd minute, Dzeko touched a cross from Kostic from the left in front of the six-yard box, but the ball, deflected by the defense, went out near the post.

In the 26th minute, Osayi-Samuel, who met the ball in the penalty area with his back to the goal, spotted Dzeko at the arc. Dzeko's first-time shot was tipped for a corner by the goalkeeper.

In the 27th minute, Oğuz Aydın, who met the ball on the left diagonal inside the penalty area with a pass from İrfan Can Kahveci, pulled it inside and curled a shot toward the far post, but the ball hit the post and went out.

In the 32nd minute, Dominik Livakovic, who was injured, could not continue the game for Fenerbahçe. Ertuğrul Çetin replaced Livakovic in goal. Ertuğrul Çetin had previously guarded the Fenerbahçe goal in 2 Süper Lig matches.

In the 35th minute, Oğuz Aydın spotted İrfan Can Kahveci making a run from behind on the left diagonal inside the penalty area. İrfan Can's powerful shot from the left of the penalty spot was parried back into play by the goalkeeper.

In the 38th minute, Çağlar Söyüncü rose well to a cross from İrfan Can Kahveci from the right on the left side of the six-yard box, but the goalkeeper tipped his header for a corner.

In the 42nd minute, Fenerbahçe took the lead. In a sudden attack, Dzeko curled a shot into the far post from the left diagonal inside the penalty area following a pass from Szymanski: 1-0.

In the 44th minute, arguments broke out between players on the pitch. Opoku and Amrabat were shown yellow cards.

In the 45+1st minute, the referee, following a VAR warning, deemed Ba's challenge on Edin Dzeko a red card offense.

In the 55th minute, the injured Oğuz Aydın was helped off the pitch by medical teams. Saint-Maximin replaced him. Dusan Tadic came on for İrfan Can Kahveci. The Fenerbahçe stands chanted in support of İrfan Can Kahveci.

In the 59th minute, Piatek equalized the match with a final touch on a ball coming into the penalty area. With this, Başakşehir found a goal with their first shot against Fenerbahçe: 1-1.

In the 74th minute, Youssef En-Nesyri scored with a powerful header from a difficult position to put his team back in front: 2-1.

In the 76th minute, Piatek found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper following a mistake by the Fenerbahçe defense. Piatek sent the ball wide from a favorable position.

In the 78th minute, Becao was also injured. The experienced player left the pitch on a stretcher. Since Fenerbahçe had no remaining substitution rights, they continued the game with 10 men.

In the 89th minute, En-Nesyri found the net once again with a header: 3-1.