Fenerbahce have beaten Benfica 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final this evening.
A goal from Egemen Korkmaz means that they take a one goal lead back to Portugal but it could have been even more.
The hosts missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time and hit the post on two other occasions, while Benfica did not offer much resistance.
See how the action unfolded with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of this Europa League semi-final between Fenerbahce and Benfica.
Fenerbahce are usually pretty tight at the back, while the away side have been in superb form since the turn of the year. It will be interesting to see if they can take an advantage back to Portugal.
Some team news just coming in...
BENFICA: Artur; Pereira, Garay, Jardel, Melgarejo; Gomez, Aimar, Matic; John, Cordozo, Salvio
FENERBAHCE: Demirel; Gonul, Yobo, Korkmaz, Zeigler; Meireles, Topal, Kuyt, Cristian; Sow, Webo
Interesting to see exactly how the home team line up. They have got Dirk Kuyt, Moussa Sow and Pierre Webo in the side, so I'd have to assume the former Liverpool man will start in midfield.
Benfica are as expected, with the exception of Nicolas Gaitan, as young Ola John has been preferred to the Argentinian in attack. Not a bad substitute to have in reserve though!
I must admit that I fancy Benfica tonight. They're the form team while Fenerbahce were possibly a little fortunate to beat Lazio in the last round.
Fenerbahce have former Juventus man Milos Krasic on the bench tonight, alongside veteran attacker Selcuk Sahin.
Benfica, as I mentioned before, have Gaitain in reserve along with Rodrigo and Urreta, so there is plenty of firepower on both benches should the game be a close one.
These two have only met once before in their history. Back in 1975 Benfica secured a famous 7-0 victory in the first leg, before Fenerbahce restored some pride with a 1-0 win in the return.
Fenerbahce's manager called this "a new chapter" for the Turkish side earlier in the week. Aykut Kocaman told UEFA.com: "After beating Plzen in the quarter-finals I said there was nothing to choose between the last eight. It is the same now. This is a new chapter in our history."
Just 10 minutes to go until kickoff now, and a quick reminder you can also follow the other semi-final, between Chelsea and Basel with Sports Mole's live coverage here.
Back in Turkey though, it will be interesting to see a clash of styles here. The away side rely on three midfielders, with two wide attackers in a counter-attacking style.
Fenerbahce meanwhile, seem to have chosen a four-four-two formation, but with several interchangeable players, the Turkish side have given themselves the option to change things during the match.
Benfica will be looking to go one better than they managed two years ago, when they lost in the semi-final to Braga on away goals.
Perhaps their manager Jorge Jesus had that defeat in mind when picking his rather attacking lineup for the game tonight.
The teams are out for the pre-match pleasantries as we edge closer to kickoff...
A minute's silence is interrupted by passionate singing from some fans in Istanbul, as the sides pay tribute to a Fenerbahce director who died this week. With that over the Turkish fans give their team a rousing applause as they start they game.
The home side putting their opponents under pressure from the start, with Cristian chasing down Pereira in the corner.
A wall of boos hits the Benfica players every time they touch the ball, and perhaps it's affecting them as Aimar gives it away needlessly in midfield.
The game hasn't really settled into a rhythm yet. Benfica are trying to pass their way out of defence, but high pressure from the home side is forcing them to go long too quickly.
A throw-in high on the right allows Fenerbahce to work the ball to Kuyt, who crosses to the back post where Webo is beaten in the air. They retain the ball after a poor corner but the assistant's flag is up for offside against Sow.
Topal gives the ball away in midfield and Cordozo runs clear for Benfica, before an excellent tackle on the edge of the box by Yobo and the defence clears the ball.
The referee has a word with Cordozo and Korkmaz after the two of them were wrestling in the box. After a retaken throw-in, Cordozo wins the header, only for Aimar to fire wide from the edge of the box.
UPDATE! There's been a goal in the other semi-final tonight, with Victor Moses giving Chelsea an important away goal in Switzerland.
Back to Turkey though, and Benfica are finally starting to exert a degree on control. They play it across midfield and eventually back to the goalkeeper, but are struggling to penetrate the home defence.
CHANCE! Gonul surges forward from right-back for Fenerbahce and releases Webo with a great through ball. The striker gets to the byline and cuts it back for Sow who shoots wide at the front post.
CHANCE! Another great chance for the home side. Kuyt gets free on the right hand side before picking out Sow in the middle. The striker leaps well and heads the ball back across goal, only to see it bounce off the crossbar, and Benfica clear.
A free kick from the right is delivered well by Cristian, finding Korkmaz in the middle but the centre-back is offside. Fenerbahce have started to play well in the last few minutes, and could be ahead!
Benfica put together a great passing move, switching the ball from right to left with a series of one-twos between Aimar, John and Salvio. In the end Pereira tries a difficult through-ball and Fenerbahce clear.
Cordozo is struggling to hold the ball up for Benfica, with little support from midfield. They look a lot better when they move the ball through midfield but are struggling to find the gaps on a regular basis.
Jardel fouls Webo on the halfway line allowing Fenerbahce to get the ball forward on the right. Kuyt plays in Sow, whose cross is headed away by Garay. The home team continue the pressure with a long throw but Benfica are able to regroup again.
Cristian's corner is initially cleared by Benfica but Kuyt fires it into the danger area. Webo wins the ball and heads it to Sow, who heads over when under pressure. The two strikers are linking up well.
The game's first yellow card is awarded to Gomes, after a trip on Webo. Cristian plays the ball short from the free kick but Zeigler's cross goes out on the far side for a goal kick.
Two consecutive corners for Benfica put the home side under pressure, but Volkan punches the ball away at the second attempt. As they break, Gonul is tripped on the halfway line but Webo is offside from the long free kick.
A period of possession for the home side eventually sees Zeigler feed Webo on the left, who plays the ball inside for Kuyt to wildly shoot over the bar from 30 yards out.
Another yellow card for the visitors as Aimar comes in late on Meireles. Cristian is then booked for taking the free kick too quickly, before the second attempt is headed away.
Sow steals the ball from Aimar after another period of possession for the away side, but the striker couldn't pick out Webo. Aimar collects the ball from Garay, playing a lovely ball over the top for Salvio, whose cross-shot evades everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
Salvio plays in Pereira on the overlap before the right-back's cross finds Cordozo at the back post. The Benfica striker wanted too many touches though and Fenerbahce clear the ball.
The home side almost take the lead, as Sow's cross causes confusion in the box. Webo misses his header but receives the ball as he falls to the floor, just failing to poke it towards goal.
PENALTY! Kuyt plays Gonul through into the box. The right back shields the ball from John, who tracked the run, before going over his outstretched leg.
MISS! Cristian fires his penalty against the post and Benfica clear!
HALF-TIME: Fenerbahce 0-0 Benfica
Incredible end to the half, as the home side miss a great chance to take a lead into the break. Cristian, who missed their penalty on the stroke of half time, is in tears as he leaves the pitch and has to be consoled by his teammates.
Fenerbahce were probably just about worth a half time lead. They had the only two clear-cut chances of the half, but neither side has really taken control of the match.
Cristian was really in hysterics as he left the field. It will be interesting to see if he even returns for the second half, or whether he returns determined to make amends.
I've been disappointed by Benfica tonight. Take nothing away from Fenerbahce but the visitors have tried to hit the ball long towards Cordozo too many times. They look much more threatening when they move the ball through midfield.
You would have to expect an improvement in the second half and perhaps, before too long, the introduction of Gaitan. Fenerbahce meanwhile, will be looking for more of the same. Webo and Sow have linked up well, while Kuyt and Cristian have been dangerous with their delivery from wide areas.
The teams are slowly coming out for the second half and Cristian is among the Fenerbahce players, and looks to have calmed down. I said at the beginning that I fancied Benfica for this one, but I just can't see it at the moment.
They are wasting no time in changing it though. Nicolas Gaitan replaces his compatriot Pable Aimar, who I actually thought didn't do too badly.
Fenerbahce kick off and force a throw-in on the right straight away. Gonul launches it into the box but Pereira heads the ball back to Artur.
Cristian picks up the ball in midfield and fires the ball at goal from 25 yards, forcing Artur into a good save. The resulting corner falls to Meireles who forces the goalkeeper into action again, before Sow is flagged offside.
CHANCE! Topal flicks the ball over the defence for Cristian who is tackled. The ball falls for Zeigler who picks out Kuyt in the box, but the Dutchman is denied by the post!
That's three times that the home side have been denied by the post and they are starting to turn up the heat on Benfica, as Cristian just overhits his through-ball to Webo.
Cordozo tries an ambitious attempt from very far out, allowing Volkan to collect easily and launch a counter-attack. Benfica regain the ball though and Pereira finds Gaitan, who shoots from just outside the box, only to see the ball hit the woodwork yet again!
Fenerbahce are definitely the better side now. Cristian plays a clever ball inside the left-back but Sow is offside. They regain the ball and Zeigler plays it forward but again Sow is left frustrated by the assistant referee.
Topal makes a rare surge out of midfield and wins a corner, which is whipped in by Cristian before being cleared. Meireles collects the clearance and fires the ball back into the box where it is headed out by Salvio.
SUBSTITION Fenerbahce are forced into a change with Raul Meireles hurt, and subsequently replaced by Salih Ucan. Benfica also make a change, with Rodrigo on for Ola John.
Cristian's deep free kick is collected by Artur but his distribution is poor. Fenerbahce play it towards Sow, but the striker is offside, not for the first time.
Benfica are dealing with Fenerbahce attacks quite easily now, but are still yet to find anything going forward themselves.
GOAL! Fenerbahce 1-0 Benfica (Korkmaz)
Fenerbahce finally get the goal they deserve, but in controversial circumstances. A Gonul long throw was headed wide by Webo. The referee gave a corner though, from which the ball found it's way to Korkmaz who headed against the bar and over the line before Pereira could clear.
The Turkish crowd are in full voice now as their team continue to push forward looking to extend their lead, but Benfica clear Gonul's long ball.
Gomes bursts through into the box, but a great tackle from Yobo denies him just as he was about to pull the trigger. To makes things worse, the ball ricochets off him for a goal kick.
Benfica really have been poor this evening. A free kick in a dangerous position is played short for Gaitain, whose cross is way too deep and Volkan collects easily.
With just 10 minutes to go, it's easy at the moment for Fenerbahce, and with a little more care in the final third they can increase their lead here.
A great touch and turn by Webo in the box is thwarted by Garay at the extent of another corner for the home side. It's cleared for a throw but Benfica win the ball and break, only for Cordozo to overhit the final pass.
UPDATE! Basel have equalised with a late penalty against Chelsea. That could be all-important ahead of next week's second leg in London.
SUBSTITUTION Fenerbahce look like they're going for another goal, bringing on Milos Krasic and Selcuk Sahin for Moussa Sow and Cristian.
Both teams are still pushing for a goal, but the tiredness suggests that that will be it for the scoring. Webo is flagged offside and kicks the ball away, earning himself a yellow card and suspension from the second leg.
UPDATE! Chelsea have scored a stoppage time winner against Basel in the other semi-final, thanks to a David Luiz free kick.
FULL-TIME: Fenerbahce 1-0 Basel
Fenerbahce are deserved winners in Turkey, although they will be disappointed they won't be taking a bigger lead back to Benfica. The Portuguese side offered very little in the match, apart from a Gaitan effort which hit the post. They will be happy to still be in the tie quite frankly.
That's it from me after an entertaining second half in Turkey. Thanks for joining me on Sports Mole and goodnight.
Written by
Daniel Cross
Daniel Cross
