Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. Gaziantepspor

Match Day: Fenerbahce vs. Gaziantepspor
By Nathan L. Redd

Fenerbahce kicks off another Fortis Turkiye Cup on Wednesday at home with Gaziantepspor coming to town. The Yellow Canaries will continue their conquest for the trophy that has eluded them for twenty-four years as they hope to build on last season's success. Fenerbahce got close to redeeming themselves in 2005 and 2006 but finished as runners-up both times. Last season they failed to finish in the top two for the first time since 2004.

The Fortis Turkiye Cup is unchartered waters for Gaziantepspor. The Southern Turkiye side has never finished in the top two for the trophy, nor did they achieve success when it was known as the Federation Cup or the Turkiye Cup. Gaziantepspor finished in eleventh place last season, but the club is hoping for bigger things this year. They currently sit in tenth place in the Turkcell Super Lig with thirteen points, but they find themselves only three points clear of Kayserispor in fifth place. The Anatolian side is hoping to catch Fenerbahce looking ahead a bit on Tuesday. Fenerbahce will play host to derby rivals Besiktas this weekend, and Gaziantep hopes to find Zico's side thinking of Besiktas rather than the other red and black side.

Fenerbahce and Gaziantepspor go to battle on Wednesday, October 31 at 20:00 (2 PM EST in the U.S.).