The Yellow Canaries finally put an end to their seven match winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Antalyaspor at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium on Sunday night. Left back André Santos scored the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute, giving Fenerbahçe their slim edge over the visiting side. A great assist and an impeccable command in midfield earned Emre Belözoğlu a well deserved round of applause.

Sunday's league fixture against Antalyaspor was to be a critical turning point for Fenerbahçe. Anything but a victory at the Şükrü Saracoğlu on the night would have meant total disaster for the Canaries. After dropping points in all of their last seven games, Fenerbahçe desperately needed a lifeline to get them back on track in their Turkcell Süper Lig campaign.

The Yellow Canaries were missing their captain, Alex de Souza, through a two-match suspension, but fans were indeed relieved to see Diego Lugano back in central defence. Deivid de Souza was also in the starting eleven for the first time this season.

Although causing the Canaries serious upset in their previous encounters this season, Mehmet Özdilek's Antalyaspor never seemed to trouble Fenerbahçe during Sunday's match, especially not in the first half. The home side looked strong from the beginning and eleven minutes in, it was Dani Güiza who headered down a cross to Semih Şentürk who volleyed the ball over the crossbar.

Next it was the Spanish archer himself to take the spotlight, shooting the ball off target in the 14th minute to the left of the Antalyaspor goal and then missing an incredible chance six minutes later. On 20, Güiza received a pass from Semih that could have easily be turned into an assist. Dani did the impossible and shot the ball just over the top right corner of the frame. Still at a goalless draw, the Yellow Canaries kept on pushing and their dangerous attack two minutes later came to nothing.

Fener finally scored in the 33rd minute thanks to a well thought counter-attack, much like the Yellow Canaries' winner at Antalya in their first fixture this season. A long through ball from Semih was brilliantly serviced by Emre Belözoğlu to André Santos. The Brazilian ran into the box with the ball and did not hesitate, as he struck it over Antalyaspor keeper Ömer Çatkıç: 1-0.

The Yellow Canaries had now taken the lead, but they were injury stricken yet again minutes later with Gökçek Vederson receiving a blow to his head that caused him some sort of a concussion. Christoph Daum replaced the Brazilian-Turkish winger with Mehmet Topuz who nearly scored two minutes before the break. Topuz struck decently from right outside the Antalyaspor box, but his shot went just over the crossbar. Half-time score: 1-0.

Antalyaspor looked more balanced in the second half, but it took them a while before they started creating chances on goal. Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe came close to scoring their second with two opportunities resulting from Emre Belözoğlu's hardwork, as he took Alex's role in the captain's abscence. On 58, Emre sent a high ball to Dani Güiza, but the Spaniard messed it up completely and sent the ball wide. Two minutes later, Emre picked up a rebound and entered the danger zone with a one-two pass with Deivid. Belözoğlu struck the ball from the penalty spot, but Ömer prevented Fener from extending their lead.

Deivid de Souza also had a go from way outside the Antalya box in the following minutes, but neither Semih, nor Güiza could get a touch on the ball that rolled wide. Şifo Mehmet's side started going out in attack after the one-hour mark with Necati Ateş looking to create danger in the Fenerbahçe box, but the ex-Galatasaray man was caught offsides. A freekick from Antalyaspor's Australian midfielder Mile Jedinak on the 68th went just over the Canaries crossbar.

With twenty minutes on the clock, Daum switched back from two forwards down to one, replacing Semih Şentürk with defensive midfielder Selçuk Şahin. Emre Belözoğlu looked to be shoved inside the Antalyaspor box in the 77th minute, but the midfield dynamo's appeals were left empty handed. Emre was on the scene once again four minutes later when he took a long distance freekick that beautifully sailed over the defensive wall. Antalya keeper Ömer plunged just in time to save Emre's curving shot.

Veysel Cihan came close to scoring the late equalizer that Fener fans feared greatly, taking maybe Antalyaspor's first shot on goal in the 82nd minute. Veysel's shot went high and wide to the left of the Canaries goal. Emre Belözoğlu received a well deserved standing ovation, whilst leaving his place to Deniz Barış in the dying minutes of the game. With Volkan Demirel never being truly tested throughout the match, Fenerbahçe went on to claim a very critical three points that will help the squad regain their confidence and put them back on track.