Costanzo thwarts ten-man Fenerbahçe

An 89th-minute penalty from Moreno Costanzo earned BSC Young Boys a 2-2 draw with ten-man Fenerbahçe SK and prevented the Turkish club from taking a lead into next week's UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg.

Emre Belözoğlu gave the visitors the ideal start on five minutes only for Emiliano Dudar to head the Swiss runners-up level a little under a quarter of an hour later. Miroslav Stoch restored Fenerbahçe's lead three minutes before the break and, although Colin Kazım Richards was dismissed moments later, they looked to be heading back to Istanbul with a one-goal advantage until Costanzo struck from the spot after substitute Selçuk Şahin fouled David Degen.

Young Boys also started promisingly, with Degen and Thierry Doubai both being denied by Volkan Demirel from close range before Emre put Fenerbahçe in control with a shot from just inside the area. The unmarked Dudar equalised from Henri Bienvenu's cross on 18 minutes and then fed Costanzo with a neat back-heel which resulted in the latter hitting the post and Senad Lulić somehow firing the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy.

Kazım Richards was shown a second yellow card within seconds of Stoch firing Fenerbahçe ahead once more with a shot inside Roman Bürki's post. Despite their numerical disadvantage, a resolute visiting defence perhaps sensed it was going to be their night, especially after Costanzo struck the post again and then watched on as the rebound was cleared off the line. Substitute Christian Schneuwly tested Volkan as time ebbed away but just as it appeared Fenerbahçe would hold firm, Costanzo levelled from the spot.