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Celtic level but Fenerbahçe forge on

Fenerbahçe 1-1 Celtic
The home side ended their 200th UEFA game with ten men but progressed as Lazar Marković scored his first goal for the Turkish club.

Highlights: Fenerbahçe 1-1 Celtic
  • Draw enough for Fenerbahçe to hold onto second place in Group A in 200th UEFA game
  • Seemingly plain sailing after Lazar Marković scores first goal for the hosts
  • Diego dismissed on 67 minutes; Kris Commons levels for Celtic eight minutes later
  • Yellow Canaries look shaky at the end, but join Molde in knockout phase
  • The draw for the round of 32 takes place on Monday at 13.00CET

Fenerbahçe lived on their nerves in the closing stages, but the ten men held on for a draw against Celtic to confirm their progress to the UEFA Europa League round of 32.

Needing a point to squeeze out Ajax, their only challengers for second place in Group A, Fenerbahçe took the lead on 39 minutes. Lazar Marković received a long ball from Gökhan Gönül and, with Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon mistiming his intervention, the pacey winger was able to finish into an empty net for his first goal since joining on loan from Liverpool.

There had been no questioning Gordon's focus earlier on; he pushed a Mehmet Topal shot onto the post as Fenerbahçe started ferociously, powered by electric support from the stands. On 29 minutes he was called upon again, fending away Diego's long-range effort and then Souza's attempt on the follow-up.

Apparently safe, Fenerbahçe took their time after the break, but Diego's dismissal for a chop at Stefan Johansen on 67 minutes blew their cool. It turned sourer for the hosts when newly introduced substitute Kris Commons nodded in a fine cross from Mikael Lustig – the first goal Fenerbahçe had conceded in Group A since Commons beat Fabiano in the sides' 1 October meeting.

There were a few more nervy moments towards the finish, but Fenerbahçe's 200th UEFA club competition fixture ultimately had a happy ending.

Gökhan impresses
Injured at the beginning of term, Gökhan lost his starting spot to Şener Özbayraklı but that seems only to have toughened his resolve. The Fenerbahçe captain is arguably in the form of his career, the full-back's energy and vision laying on Fenerbahçe's goal.

Commons breaks the spell
When Commons scored Celtic's second 32 minutes into these teams' 2-2 draw on matchday two, it was the fifth goal Fenerbahçe had shipped in the group. The Yellow Canaries then went 303 minutes without conceding a European goal until Commons headed the Bhoys' leveller in Istanbul.

Fenerbahçe showing resilience
Fenerbahçe made a dreadful start to Group A, the 3-1 home loss to Molde an awful shock to the system. However, Vítor Pereira's troops have rallied admirably – they are unbeaten in five UEFA Europa League games, and in 12 in all competitions. Semi-finalists three seasons ago, they have cause for optimism.

©AFP/Getty Images
©AFP/Getty Images
©AFP/Getty Images

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