Defender Radoslav Kovac scored an own-goal in the 20th minute to give Fenerbahce a 1-0 win at Sparta Prague on Tuesday in the Champions League.
Both teams have been eliminated from the Champions League, with Group D leaders Manchester United and Lyon advancing to the second phase after United beat Lyon 2-1.
The Red Devils lead the standings with 11 points, with Lyon on 10. Fenerbahce has six points and Sparta has one with one more game to play.
”We have to acknowledge [Fenerbahce] played a very good match,” Sparta coach Frantisek Straka said. ”We made too many individual mistakes.”
With a spot in the UEFA Cup at stake for the third team, Sparta was attempting to go on the attack but didn’t create a decent scoring opportunity until the 19th minute when Lukas Zelenka’s drive from the edge of the area went over the crossbar.
Fenerbahce threatened with an immediate counterattack, with Brazilian striker Marcio Nobre’s header from close range forcing Sparta goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek to a stunning save.
A minute later, Aslan Kemal crossed from the right and the ball fisted by Blazek was diverted by Kovac past the ‘keeper.
The visitors were close to doubling the lead in the 39th minute when Marcio Nobre went clear on a through pass by his Brazilian teammate Alex and Blazek had to race off his line to save.
Sparta went on the attack in the second half but failed to break down Fenerbahce’s confident defence. At the other end, Blazek had to make a diving save in the 56th minute to save an Alex header from 10m.
Striker Tomas Jun missed two chances for Sparta in the 68th and 71st minutes, sending two angled shots from inside the area wide. – Sapa-AP