Group H Europa League Round-Up: Fenerbahce And Twente Take Control

Twente and Fenerbahce both recorded home wins to give themselves every chance of making the knock-out stages.

Nov 5, 2009 5:25:19 PM

Fenerbahce (fenerbahce.org)

Dutch league leaders FC Twente were pushed all the way by hard-working Sheriff Tiraspol from Moldova. On loan Chelsea right winger Miroslav Stoch grabbed an early lead for the home side on eight minutes, but despite pressing for a second goal it wouldn’t come.

In the second half it looked like Steve McLaren’s men might come to rue their inability to extend their advantage when an own goal from substitute Cheick Tiote levelled the score. However, Twente would not be denied the victory as Stoch grabbed a last gasp winner to put the Dutch outfit on seven points after four matches while Sheriff are three points back in third place.

In the other group match, Fenerbahce improved their position and are now on the verge of qualification after a 3-1 win against Romanian side Steaua Bucharest. New Brazilian signing Andre Santos got the Turkish league leaders off to a flying start when he netted just before the quarter of an hour mark.

However, Steaua leveled before the interval through Greek international striker Pantelis Kapetanos. The second half though was a different story and former Sivasspor defender Bilica struck on 51 minutes and the game was wrapped up halfway through the period when playmaker Alex got himself on the score-sheet to make it 3-1.

The win puts Fenerbahce onto nine points and they can guarantee themselves top spot in the group on match-day five when they travel to the Netherlands to meet FC Twente. Steaua meanwhile languish in bottom place and need to win both their remaining games if they hope to keep their slender hopes of qualification alive.

Walter Townsend, Goal.com

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