Fenerbahce kept the Turkish title race alive on Sunday as they won 1-0 with 10 men at leaders Galatasaray in an electric Istanbul derby.
The victory in the “intercontinental derby” moved Fenerbahce, from the Asian side of the Bosphorus, to three points behind their bitter rivals with one round of games to play.
Third-placed Trabzonspor are 32 points behind Fenerbahce.
Sunday’s result means the top two can finish level. If they do, Fenerbahce will take the title because head-to-head results are the first tiebreaker in the Super Lig. The teams drew in December.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when Alexander Djiku received a second yellow card – one of 11 in the game. The visitors played through fusillade of abuse and projectiles as they deprived Galatasaray of the chance to clinch the title at home.
Fenerbahce scored the only goal in the 71st minute when Galatasaray goalkeeper Fernando Muslera flapped at an in-swinging corner.
Derrick Kohn blocked the ball on the line but it fell to former Leicester City centre back Caglar Soyuncu, on loan from Atletico Madrid, who poked home from close range.
Fenerbahce climbed to 96 points, their highest tally in the Super Lig. They hostlast-placed Istanbulbulspor in the final round next Sunday.
Galatasaray visit lowly Konyaspor, needing just a point to clinch their 24th league title.
