The Yellow Canaries missed an important chance to extend their lead at the top of the league standings, as Fenerbahçe was held to a 1-1 draw by Diyarbakırspor on Sunday night. After a goalless eighty minutes, it was really the last ten that marked the whole game. While Ayman's 83rd minute stunner shocked the home side, it was André Santos' 90th minute header that earned Fenerbahçe the one point.

After playing on a very damp pitch against Denizlispor two weeks ago and under light snowfall against Bursaspor this past week, finally there were clear skies above Kadıköy’s Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Sunday night. Turkcell Süper Lig Week 20’s closing game was between two sides from each end of the table. Leaders Fener were hosting Diyarbakırspor, who was hoping to get a breather from the relegation pack down at the bottom of the league standings.

The Yellow Canaries were definitely on top form coming into the game and a win on Sunday would mean extending their lead over archrivals Galatasaray and marching to a fifth consecutive win in the Turkcell Süper Lig. Mehmet Topuz was filling in for injured Uğur Boral in the starting eleven. Spanish striker Dani Güiza was sitting in the dugout, recovering from his light heel injury, while team captains Alex de Souza and Semih Şentürk were taking their places up front.

Contrary to expectations, this wouldn't turn out to be an easy game for Fenerbahçe and the opening minutes were proof that Diyarbakırspor would create an obstacle for the home side. An eighth minute strike from the visitors would serve as a wake up call. Bebbe's long distance strike would come back off the Fener crossbar and would be then collected by Volkan. One minute later Alex would take a free kick on the other end of the field, only to be punched away by Diyarbakır keeper Gökhan.

Fenerbahçe would find their first chance of the game in the 14th minute with Topuz crossing from the left wing down to Semih who laid the ball perfectly in front of Alex de Souza who missed the target by inches. Although Mehmet Topuz started on the left wing and Özer Hurmacı on the right, Canaries coach Christoph Daum would be switching the sides of the wingers in hopes of creating more chances on goal.

However, Diyarbakırspor was proving to be tough opposition for Fenerbahçe, just like in the away game in the first half of the season. Long shots from Alex de Souza and Cristian Baroni and a close range header from Fabio Bilica weren't enough to open the scoreline. 

Semih Şentürk came close in the 40th minute, when he received Mehmet's pass inside the box and shook off his marker but his close range shot was tipped out for a corner kick. Alex and Semih's stoppage time efforts wouldn't change the scoreline and it would be a goalless draw at half-time.

Fenerbahçe got off to a quick start in the second half, as they almost scored just two minutes into the game. André Santos sent a brilliant long pass into the Diyarbakır zone where Semih was waiting for the ball. However, Semih couldn't get his foot in and the ball was safely picked up by Diyarbakırspor shot stopper Gökhan. 

Fenerbahçe's injury jinx would return in the 49th minute with Özer Hurmacı holding his right foot in pain. The rising attacking midfielder would quickly be stretchered off the field, being replaced by Dani Güiza. The Yellow Canaries were shocked from Özer's unfortunate exit, but they tried to get back on their feet quickly.

Semih Şentürk was in scoring range in the 53rd minute when he received Emre's cross from the left, but Semih was unable to strike properly as he was surrounded by an array of Diyarbakır defenders. Mehmet Topuz was unlucky two minutes later, as his strong shot from outside the box just missed the target.

Diyarbakırspor were defending hard, but they also got a few important chances of their own. Volkan Demirel would risk injury in the 59th minute, when Tazemata intercepted Emre's ball and ran into the box for a one-on-one. The Fener keeper leaped forward and got a touch on the ball, slapping it away from the Diyarbakır attacker. Volkan, who already has a light injury in his arm, suffered short term pain from the challenge but quickly recovered.

As Yellow Canaries fans cheered on for a goal, the match quickly picked up a fast tempo. In the 63rd minute, André Santos headered the cross from an Alex corner but it went directly into the hands of Gökhan. Then one minute later, Dani Güiza was pulled down inside the Diyarbakırspor box. Fenerbahçe's appeal for a penalty would result in nothing. On the counter-attack, it would be Volkan Demirel who ran out from his goal and cleared the ball away like a defender.

With the clock ticking by it was still a goalless draw and Fenerbahçe had now found an increasing ambition to score, as they pushed on forward towards Diyarbakırspor who were continuing their strong defence. Meanwhile, Alex also got his share of strong play and received an injury blow that kept him off the field for a short time.

The pressure was still on and Diyarbakırspor broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute. Egyptian midfielder Ayman Abdelaziz's long distance strike from outside the Fener box beat Volkan Demirel and went straight into the upper left corner of the goal: 1-0.

Fenerbahçe fans continued their roaring support and the Yellow Canaries did not surrender to Ayman's stunner. First André Santos moved towards the Diyarbakır goal from the left side in the 87th minute, shaking off his markers and striking from outside the box, only to be blocked away by another defender. Then, one minute later Alex took a freekick from the right wing, crossed the ball into the crowded Diyarbakırspor box, but keeper Gökhan saved Deniz Barış' header.

Right on the 90th minute, Fenerbahçe equalized from a corner kick taken by Alex. Gökhan Gönül was near the penalty spot and headered Alex's cross forward, despite crowded by Diyarbakırspor defenders. André Santos was right on the goal line and he headed the ball into the net : 1-1.

The Yellow Canaries had made it even and the match officials added on five minutes of stoppage time to increase the level of excitement in the stadium. In the 91st minute, Fenerbahçe won a freekick near centre pitch. When Güiza appealed for a 'card' with a hand gesture, the Spanish striker was booked with a yellow card and became suspended for the next match. Fenerbahçe's Mehmet Topuz would also become suspended after being sent off for a one-on-one brawl with Diyarbakır's Barış Ataş.

Fenerbahçe players appealed for another penalty in the dying moments of the game, but match official Koray Gençerler did not give the call for handball. With the match ending in a 1-1 draw, Fenerbahçe not only dropped an important two points missing a golden chance to open the gap with Galatasaray at the top of the league standings, but they also lost injured players Özer Hurmacı and Diego Lugano, and suspended players Dani Güiza and Mehmet Topuz.  

STADIUM: Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium
REFEREES: Koray Gençerler, Erhan Sönmez, Muhittin Gürses

FENERBAHÇE: Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, Fabio Bilica, Diego Lugano (83rd, Deniz Barış), André Santos, Mehmet Topuz, Cristian Baroni, Emre Belözoğlu, Özer Hurmacı (49th, Dani Güiza), Alex de Souza, Semih Şentürk

DİYARBAKIRSPOR: Gökhan Tokgöz, Diallo, Erdinç Yavuz, Basem Abbas, Celaleddin Koçak (80th, Musa Büyük), Ayman Abdelaziz, Tjikuzu, Barış Ataş, Adnan Güngör, Tazemeta (86th, Martinovic), Bebbe (66th, Bruce Djite)

GOLLER: Ayman Abdelaziz - 83rd (Diyarbakırspor), André Santos - 90th (Fenerbahçe)

RED CARD: Mehmet Topuz - 94th
YELLOW CARDS: Bebbe, Barış Ataş (Diyarbakırspor), Fabio Bilica, Emre Belözoğlu, Dani Güiza (Fenerbahçe)

(Photo courtesy of Sporx.com)