After two straight losses in league play, Fenerbahçe have something to celebrate about tonight. The Yellow Canaries went to Holland and defeated FC Twente 1-0 on Wednesday, sealing their fate in the Round of 32.  Fener automatically qualify for the next stage of the UEFA Europa League competition as the winners of Group H. 

Fenerbahçe came into Wednesday's match needing a win to restore their confidence.  After a remarkable start to the season, the Canaries had lost two straight league matches, cutting their league lead to just a point. Nevertheless, Fener entered tonight's match leading Group H of the UEFA Europa League and needing only a draw to advance to the next round. 

Fenerbahçe instead sealed their fate in the next round with a 1-0 win over FC Twente, Wednesday night.  It was a match that could have easily gone either way, with both teams getting a number of good looks. Dani Güiza nearly set the Canaries up in the opening minutes, then had two great chances after the twenty-minute mark, but all were denied. An Alex de Souza free kick produced nothing in the 24th minute. 

The Canaries were being aggressive through the first half hour, trying to establish the pace they wanted against FC Twente. Some poor defending by the home side helped them as well, and a Roberto Carlos shot was barely saved, keeping the scoreline 0-0. The Brazilian defender, likely playing one of his final matches as a Canary, picked up a yellow card in the 29th minute for tripping an opponent.

An FC Twente corner in the 31st minute set up Bryan Ruiz for an open look and what appeared would be the first goal of the match, but Fabio Bilica deflected his shot out.  The resulting corner produced nothing, but both teams were getting ample opportunities to get on the scoreboard.

Gökçek Vederson had a fantastic long-range shot in the 32nd minute that was just saved as Fener kept up the pressure on Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker.  Twente was quick on the counter-attack in the first half, and lively play from Kenneth Perez and Bryan Ruiz kept Twente equal with the Canaries.  Perez had a number of great opportunities early on, including a look in the 33rd minute that just sailed over the top of the goal. 

Fener goalkeeper Volkan Demirel picked up the second yellow card of the match in the 39th minute for wasting time, and both teams continued to battle for a goal in the final moments of the first half.  The home side nearly broke through in the 43rd minute, when a beautiful back-heel pass from Ruiz set up Perez for a tremendous look.  His shot hit the left post and bounced back, with the Canary defense eventually clearing the ball from danger.  Moments later, a Mehmet Topuz free kick went wide left of goal, but it was Twente who were the more aggressive side in the final moments of the first half.  Still, with no stoppage time added on, the two sides went into the break with no score. 

The second half opened with the two teams playing evenly, both threatening to open the scoring. Twente had a good shot to do so in the 52nd minute on a corner kick that pulled Volkan Demirel out of goal. Blaise Nkufo had a great opportunity for a goal, but his header was off the mark. Six minutes later, he would get another good chance when Volkan Demirel dropped the ball on a save attempt, but his effort was cleared away. 

It seemed that Twente would finally break through in the 60th minute on what seemed like a can't-miss goal. Blaise Nkufo sent a beautiful pass from the left in to Bryan Ruiz as Volkan Demirel was caught out of goal defending. With what appeared to be an open net, Ruiz slipped a pass toward goal but Roberto Carlos rescued the Canaries on a magnificent clearance that saved a goal.  Twente were the more lively of the two sides in the first 15 minutes of the second half, and it appeared that the home side were nearing their first goal. 

The momentum continued shifting to Twente when Alex de Souza picked up a yellow card for a handball in the 63rd minute. The Brazilian midfielder nearly redeemed himself five minutes later, though, when a great pass from Dani Güiza found Alex on the break with a nice look, but his shot went high. A minute later, Twente's Brazilian star Douglas was called for a handball as well. 

The 70th minute brought one of Fenerbahçe's best chances at a goal.  An Alex de Souza header was just saved by the outstretched hand of Boschker, preventing a sure goal. The Canaries would finally break the scoring drought just moments later, however. A corner kick from the right found Diego Lugano in front of goal for a header that bounced past Boschker into the back of the net, putting Fenerbahçe up 1-0 in the 71st minute. 

With a one goal lead, the Canaries tried to add to it with two more chances from Dani Güiza in the 78th minute, both of which were cleared. Fener continued to get space in the front, however, as Twente backed off defensively. 

The third handball call of the match was made in the 86th minute on Diego Lugano, but Twente were unable to capitalize. A Kenneth Perez close-range free kick went over the bar in what was their last good look at a goal. The home side had several chances in the final moments, but none could produce an equalizer for FC Twente. 

The match ended with Fenerbahçe earning the 1-0 win in Holland. The Yellow Canaries win Group H of the UEFA Europa League, providing automatic qualification into the Round of 32. Fener will host FC Sheriff on Matchday Six in Istanbul. That match will be played on December 17th. 

STADIUM: De Grolsch Veste

REFEREES: Cesar Muniz Fernandez, Jose Fernandez Miranda, Javier Navoa Robles (Spain)

TWENTE: Boschker, Stam, Douglas, Wisgerhof, Carney, Brama (De Jong - 82nd), Perez, Tiote (Parker - 81st), Ruiz, Stoch, Nkufo

FENERBAHÇE: Volkan Demirel, Gökhan Gönül, Diego Lugano, Fabio Bilica, Roberto Carlos (André Dos Santos - 75th), Mehmet Topuz (Deniz Barış  - 90th), Selçuk Şahin, Cristian Baroni, Gökçek Vederson, Alex De Souza, Dani Güiza (Semih Şentürk - 83rd)

YELLOW CARDS: Roberto Carlos, Volkan Demirel, Alex De Souza, Gökçek Vederson, Diego Lugano (Fenerbahçe), Douglas, Perez, Boschker (Twente)

(photo courtesy of Milliyet)