Goals: Kezman 17', Lugano 57', Senturk 87' - Edu Dracena đá phản 23', Escude 66'

Fenerbahce substitute Semih Senturk grabbed a late winner to earn a 3-2 victory over Sevilla in their Champions League tie at Sukru Saracoglu on Wednesday.

The Turkish champions had twice been ahead in an exciting first knockout round, first leg match and will be relieved to take a narrow lead with them to the second leg in Spain.

Mateja Kezman and Lugano had put the home side in front but on both occasions Sevilla soon equalised through an Edu own goal and a Julian Escude strike to leave the game in the balance.

“It was a difficult match as we expected and I want to congratulate Sevilla who made us fight hard,” said Fenerbahce’s Brazilian coach Zico. “Both teams had the chance to win but we took advantage of our chances and came away the winners.”

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez added: “We came to win and even after the 87th minute (winner) we tried to turn things around but still lost. There’s not a huge difference between us. They’re an experienced team and you have to respect them.”

The home side had started the game nervously, with Sevilla in control in the early minutes. But a shot from Serbian striker Kezman brought Fenerbahce to life in the 12th minute.

Five minutes later Kezman found the back of the net with a powerful close-range header from a cross by Ugur Boral.

OWN GOAL

The visitors drew level after 23 minutes when Fenerbahce defender Edu deflected a cross from Sevilla’s Daniel Alves over the head of keeper Volkan Demirel and into the home side’s net.

Fenerbahce kept up the pressure for the rest of the half with Mehmet Aurelio’s close-range header forcing Sevilla keeper Anders Palop to smartly parry the ball away after 34 minutes.

Just before the break Edu came close to making up for his own goal with a header that Palop saved and Brazilian playmaker Alex then fired the rebound just wide.

Sevilla started the second half strongly and Fenerbahce’s Volkan saved two long-range efforts from Duda and Frederic Kanoute in the 49th minute.

The home side edged back in front in the 57th when Lugano’s header from an Alex corner left Palop standing.

Within 10 minutes Sevilla had pulled level again when defender Escude fired a cross into the roof of the net from close range.

But Semih sealed the match for Fenerbahce in the 87th when his shot took a slight deflection off a defender and beat Palop.

“We now have an advantage but only a small one and will have a harder job to do in Sevilla,” said Fenerbahce’s Brazilian playmaker Alex. “We are not happy about the two goals we conceded but our third goal showed we were not demoralised.