Fenerbahce suffers critical loss before derby

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - Fenerbahce lost Saturday to MKE Ankaragucu in Turkish Super Lig, setting up next week's derby against archrival Galatasaray.

Ankaragucu scored the opener in minute 13 at home as Saba Lobjanidze from Georgia tapped the ball into empty net.

Fenerbahce goalkeeper Altay Bayindir left his goal to clear the ball but Polish winger Konrad Michalak chipped it over Bayindir. Michalak passed the ball to Lobjanidze, who was in the penalty area and Lobjanidze easily found the net.

Ankaragucu doubled the gap in the 75th minute as forward Gerson Rodrigues smashed the ball into the roof of Fenerbahce goal to make it 2-0.

Turkish defender Serdar Aziz scored a consolation goal for Fenerbahce near the end of the match.

Aziz, left unmarked in the penalty area, shot the ball without trapping it. German midfielder Max Kruse crossed the ball.

Fenerbahce lost the 2-1 match in Ankara and were dismayed over the absence of Brazilian regular, Luiz Gustavo, for the Galatasaray derby.

Midfielder Gustavo will be suspended next week because of a booking he received in the 85th minute.

Super Lig booking and red card regulations stipulate a player, who collects four yellow cards, faces a one-match suspension.

Ankaragucu were very happy for the victory snd head coach Mustafa Resit Akcay said it was an important win for the team.

"It was a hard game for us. We were in need of a sap. This [victory] gave us good things, teaching, self-confidence," Akcay said.

Ankaragucu has 20 points and are in the fifteenth spot in the Super Lig, but are still feeling the heat of relegation.

Fenerbahce is currently in the sixth place with 38 points, trailing first place Medipol Basaksehir, who has 43 points in 22 matches.

Fifth-placed Galatasaray has 39 points and will face BtcTurk Yeni Malatyaspor at home Sunday.

- Saturday's results:

Yukatel Denizlispor - Hes Kablo Kayserispor: 0-1

Ittifak Holding Konyaspor - Goztepe: 1-3

MKE Ankaragucu - Fenerbahce: 2-1

- Sunday's fixtures:

Aytemiz Alanyaspor - Genclerbirligi

Trabzonspor - Demir Grup Sivasspor

Galatasaray - BtcTurk Yeni Malatyaspor