Vardar defeats Fenerbahce 2-0 in Europa League playoffs

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA

Underdogs FK Vardar shutout Fenerbahce late Thursday in the first leg of a UEFA Europa League playoffs match.

The Macedonian club was able to capitalize on Fenerbahce’s mistakes in a 2-0 win at home that gives it the upper-hand going into next week's return contest in Istanbul.

Scoring was opened in the 20th minute when winger Tigran Barseghyan flicked the ball past a helpless defender and past goalkeeper Carlos Idriss Kameni on a low shot that found its way into the net.

Fenerbahce was unable to take advantage after Vardar’s Boban Grncharov was shown the exit following a second yellow card in the 89th minute that left his team a man short.

But minutes later in the stoppage time with the match in the balance, midfielder Mehmet Topal accidentally headed the ball over his keeper to seal the win for Vardar.

Fenerbahce’s Josef de Souza was also shown a red card in the 93rd minute when he angrily stepped on an opposing player.

The second leg match will be played Aug. 25 with Fenerbahce needing to win by at least three goals to stay alive.