Christoph Daum had made it obvious he was to rest some of the first team members as the team enters a busy match schedule by leaving Serkan Balcı, Önder Turacı and Stephen Appiah in Istanbul. Though the squad that played was certainly of high class.

Kemal Aslan played in midfield with Selçuk Şahin and Marco Aurelio, reverting to the three-man midfield with a single forward, Anelka, assisted by Alex de Souza behind him. Tuncay Şanlı played on the left wing while Mehmet was on the right. Servet Çetin made his first start of the season at centre back next to Fabio Luciano while Rüştü Reçber was also selected, for the first time since last season’s Galatasaray derby win which got us the title.

Mehmet justified his selection with a cracker in the 28th minute, in contradiction to our sticky performance until then. Ankara weren’t threatening, but our attacks were not as fluid as usual.

Rüştü was called to a critical short range save when İlhan Mansız got a faint touch to a cross just before half time to keep the score at 1-0.

He repeated that in the second half, saving at a one-on-one situation with Umut in the 55th minute. Three minutes later Tuncay tried an overhead kick which bounced off the crossbar for a goal kick.

A move from Ankaragücü’s right wing involving Coridon’s through ball and Niyazi’s pacey cross was completed by Umut, who placed in from close range for Ankara’s equaliser. Their celebrations lasted a short while however, as Mehmet struck a shot which deflected in off Batista in the box, after Kemal had brought the ball into the danger area but lost possession.

Tuncay could have got on the scoresheet and made things easier for his team by scoring a simple goal, as he did well to combine with Alex and get him to a duel with the goalkeeper, Orkun. The Turkish international hit the ball just wide of the right post.

Mehmet’s crossing abilities were on display again tonight, which created danger from oncoming players like Tuncay and Alex. Anelka, in a rough battle with Ankara’s Serdar, was pleased to be picked out well by Mehmet, and did his part by sensing Orkun wasn’t going to be able to collect the ball despite his departure from the goal line. He moved to the left and got a striker’s touch to score from a narrowing angle, 3-1, the clock at 80 minutes.

Evren, playing a dirty game with a diabolical challenge on Mehmet, got away with a yellow card with his stud showing tackle on Aurelio, but got on the scoresheet in the dying seconds of the game, finishing off an attack in the area with a low shot.

Venue: 19 Mayıs
Referees: Mustafa Çulcu  , Erhan Sönmez , Serkan Akal 
Ankaragücü: Orkun , Emre , Hakan  Sedat  (Gherieni 63), Zengue   (Batista 57), Niyazi , Evren , Coridon , Heverton  (Birol 76), Umut , İlhan
Fenerbahçe: Rüştü , Selçuk , Servet , Luciano , Ümit , Mehmet, Aurelio, Kemal (Can 86), Tuncay  (Olcan 84), Alex , Anelka (Nobre 83)
Goals: Mehmet 28, 63. Umut 62. Anelka 80. Evren 90+3
Booked: Sedat 59, Evren 89 (Ankaragücü) , Kemal 82 (Fenerbahçe)