quarter-finalists last season, the turkish team began another european campaign with a routine home win.
by türker tozar from istanbul
turkish giants fenerbahçe sk started their european campaign with a 2-0 win over mtk budapest, earning a vital advantage at the şükrü saracoğlu stadium ahead of next week's uefa champions league second qualifying round decider with the hungarian title winners. early breakthrough the hosts opened the scoring with just 15 minutes gone, when veteran brazilian left-back roberto carlos hit the back of the net with a magnificent shot from 35 metres. much of fenerbahçe's first-half pressure came from the left channel, in fact, but they were unable to increase their lead until selçuk şahin's deflected effort a minute shy of the hour mark.
aragonés pleasure turkish international kazım kazım almost capped a fine display by adding the home side's third in the 74th minute, but his shot found the crossbar instead. fener's new strike pairing of daniel güiza and semih şentürk also showed much promise, but it was the defence that pleased coach luis aragonés most after the former spain trainer reacquainted himself with victory following uefa euro 2008™ success. "in games like this, there are certain key things," he said. "one is not conceding any goals and we managed that. day by day, we can perform better and improve our passing, which is also important."
