Football News - 10-man Fenerbahce hit back to preserve unbeaten home run against Galatasaray

Teenager Eljif Elmas salvaged a point for 10-man Fenerbahce against rivals Galatasaray, extending their unbeaten run in home Intercontinental Derbies which stretches all the back to 1999.

Hasan Ali Kaldirim’s red card at the end of the first half looked to have given Galatasaray the impetus and they made the most of that advantage by taking the lead after 66 minutes, with Henry Onyekuru heading home from a Mariano cross at the back post.

However, just five minutes later Fenerbahce equalised through Elmas, who finished high into the roof of the net after a square ball into the middle fell his way following an excellent Roberto Soldado step-over.

Both teams had chances to win it late on, but Fenerbahce held on to preserve their historic unbeaten run and damage Galatasaray’s title chances at the top of the Turkish Super Lig, with Fatih Terim’s side now five points off the pace.

One goal to the good with a man advantage and with just 20 minutes left to play, it seemed like Galatasaray were set for their first win at the Sukry Saracoglu Stadium since 1999. Fenerbahce’s unbeaten run of 24 home games against their great rivals was at risk and yet they somehow managed to keep it going, fighting back when Galatasaray should have had the points in the bag. This was the chance of a generation and they spurned it.

In a scrappy, bitty match, Moses was one of the few players on the pitch who managed to provide a spark throughout. The on loan Chelsea player faded in the second half, but only because the sending off of Kaldirim forced him into the right back position. Even still, Moses’ positioning was key to keeping Galatasaray at arm’s length. He is a Swiss Army Knife of a player. His versatility was on display here.

Fenerbahce - Tekin 6, Dirar 5, Skrtel 6, Serdar 5, Aziz 6, Hasan 7, Topal 6, Tolgay 6, Eljif 8, Valbuena 7, Moses 8, Soldado 7. Subs - Jailson 6, Koybasi 5, Potuk 4.

Galatasarary - Muslera 6, Mariano 7, Donk 8, Semih 6, Linnes 7, Fernando 5, Ndiaye 5, Belhanda 5, Feghouli 6, Onyekuru 7, Diagne 5. Subs - Akbaba 6, Mitroglou 5, Gumus 5.

43’ Big, big call! The Galatasaray players are furious. A long ball forward looked to have put Diagne clean through, but Kaldirim pulled him down. The referee decides to only show him a yellow, though! Wow.

45’ IT'S A RED! The officials have overturned their own decision using the VAR! What drama! The Galatasaray players were furious with the initial decision to show Kaldirim only a yellow card!

54’ Inches away! That was so close to being the opener for Galatasaray. Feghouli played a sweeping pass out to the right wing where Mariano met it first time on the volley. His shot bounces inches wide of the far post, though.

63’ Off the post! That's the closest we have come to an opener! Linnes dug a shot out from just inside the penalty area, it picked up a deflection and spun off the outside of the Fenerbahce post! So close!

66’ GOAL! Fenerbahce 0-1 Galatasaray: The breakthrough! Galatasaray have finally taken the lead in the Intercontinental Derby! Mariano played the deep cross to the back post and Onyekuru got above and ahead of his marker to head into the back of the net! Fener are down a goal and down a man too! This isn't looking good for them.

71’ GOAL! Fenerbahce 1-1 Galatasaray: It's an immediate response from Fenerbahce who have restored parity! They won the ball high up the pitch, Soldado dummied for Elmas inside the box and the 19-year-old finished high into the roof of the net! What a finish from the youngster!

92’ What a chance! That was the opportunity for Fenerbahce to win this with 10 men! The ball was squared for Potuk in the box, but he fluffed his lines and scuffed his effort well wide of the far post.