Fenerbahce SK claimed their first win in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) after a 2-1 victory over OGC Nice, who are now winless in their last 14 matches in European competition (D4, L10).
Kerem Akturkoglu broke the deadlock in the third minute with his first Fenerbahce goal after Anderson Talisca exploited a gaping hole in Nice’s defence to play him through and provide a left-footed finish that squirmed past Yehvann Diouf.
Kevin Carlos should have restored parity for the visitors when he headed over from a Jonathan Clauss cross.
But Akturkoglu struck again when he made a superb surging run into the box and saw his subsequent shot take a deflection off Juma Bah before beating Diouf.
However, Les Aiglons were given a route back into the game after Milan Skriniar clearly handled the ball inside the box following an earlier tangle with Tiago Gouveia.
The offence that led to the penalty was unclear, but Carlos coolly dispatched the spot-kick to halve the deficit.
Gouveia could have completely wiped out Fenerbahce's lead moments later, as his header cannoned off the woodwork.
There may have been a barnstorming start to the first half, but the second began in a much more subdued manner, with no shots on target for either side heading past the hour mark.
That changed when Terem Moffi produced a fine turn and unleashed a shot from distance, which was well held by Ederson.
Sari Kanaryalar were struggling to match their first-half intensity, but Youssef En Nesyri spurned a golden chance to score their third after heading over from Dorgeles Nene’s cross.
En Nesyri had another opportunity to effectively kill off the contest as he bore down on goal with only Diouf to beat, but the Nice shot-stopper was out quickly to thwart the Moroccan.
These three points for Fenerbahce mean that the Turkish outfit have only lost twice in their last 13 UEL home games (W6, D5), and continue a largely positive start to life in the dugout for Domenico Tedesco since his appointment last month.
The former Belgium boss is now unbeaten in five of his first six matches in charge (W3, D2), while the feel-good factor is in much shorter supply for opposite number Franck Haise.
Les Aiglons have now lost 11 consecutive UEL away games, and only managed two wins across 10 matches across all competitions so far this season (D1, L7).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kerem Akturkoglu (Fenerbahce)