Bright Osayi-Samuel was in action as Fenerbahce slipped to a slim 1-0 loss to bitter rivals Besiktas at the Tüpraş Stadyumu on Saturday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian international featured for the last eight minutes as a 73rd-minute strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handed the hosts the victory and all the three points at stake.
Fenerbahce were the in-form team heading towards the Istanbul derby as Jose Mourinho’s men had won each of their last five games in all competitions.
However, Besiktas held the high-flying visitors at bay for much of the encounter before grabbing the all-important winner midway through the second half.
Former Arsenal lad Oxlade-Chamberlain, three minutes after coming off the bench, sent a low cross-cum-shot into the box and watched as it creeped beyond the goalkeeper into the far corner.
THE OPENER IN THE DERBY COMES FROM BEŞIKTAŞ!! 🇹🇷⚔️⚽️
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the dangerous cross, Ciro Immobile probably slightly touches the ball and finds the net!https://t.co/BFtifHDBXi
— Football in Türkiye ⚽️🇹🇷 (@FootyinTurkiye) December 7, 2024
Ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid manager Mourinho threw everything he had at the home team, including sending on Super Eagles defender Osayi-Samuel, as Fenerbahce desperately searched for an equaliser.
However, Besiktas, who were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Gedson Fernandes in stoppage time, held on to claim their seventh win of the campaign.
Besiktas will dance well into the Istanbul night with that victory as the win sees the club overtake Eyüpspor and Goztepe on the Turkish Super Lig table to climb to fourth on the log.
Only four points now separate Serdar Topraktepe’s men and third place Samsunspor.
A win for Fenerbahce would have seen the Yellow-Blacks go level on points with Galatasaray but the champions can now go six points clear with victory at Sivasspor on Sunday.
