898... 899... 900! Fenerbahce 2 - 0 Ankaragucu

898... 899... 900! Fenerbahce 2 - 0 Ankaragucu
By Ozgur R. Nazilli

It's finally here. After 3 draws, Fenerbahce has won it's 900th game in the history of the league.

In the game that just ended a few minutes ago, Fenerbahce fans have finally been able to watch a good performance from the team in the Turkish League this season. Although for the majority of the game the score was 1-0, Ali Bilgin adding the second one in the final minutes of the game, Fenerbahce had the upper hand all along, to the extent that Volkan would be fine even without a shower after the game. At some point, Fenerbahce had taken 9 corners against 0 by Ankaragucu. The match reflected the statistics too. Most of the game was played in Ankaragucu's half, and Ankaragucu had a hard time threatening Fenerbahce's goal.


Fenerbahce started off well, and the players were pressing everywhere on the pitch. Actually, the whole 90 minutes was played under the control of Fenerbahce players, and even though the score was only 2-0, Fenerbahce missed five or six very easy opportunities. Also, Fenerbahce did not have the best of times with the referee's decisions, especially after he decided against awarding a penalty in 3 separate penalty positions, 2 of them being very obvious. A defender hand-balled in the penalty area to stop Alex's attack, Kezman was fouled by another Ankaragucu player in the penalty area, and finally Carlos was fouled with one foot in the area, but the last one was a really tough one to call.

The goals were scored by Aurelio (36th minute) and Ali Bilgin (90+, At injury time). Aurelio headed a corner by Alex home from a very tight angle, and the goal keeper could not even react to it. Ali Bilgin's goal was from the middle, with a break-through pass by Vederson being hit towards the left of the goalie by Bilgin, which went into the net. But the most inspiring play of the game was neither of the goals. It was by the legendary left back, Roberto Carlos. At the left wing, in about the 64th minute, Carlos kicked the ball to the left of two Ankaragucu players, stormed through the middle of the two players, and got to the ball which then he carried in to the penalty area. It was a sight to behold, with Carlos, who has been labeled as being "too old" by some people, outrunning two players who are probably 6 or 7 years younger than he is, to get to the ball. The fans in the stadium thanked him for his effort with a thunderous applause, which he acknowledged with a raise of his hand.

All in all, it was a good performance by the Yellow Canaries, and one can only hope that Zico and his students can build upon this win for the upcoming games, starting with the CSKA Moscow match next week.