Alex scored the only goal as Fenerbahce bounced back from their opening Europa League defeat to FC Twente with a 1-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol.
Semih Senturk’s cross from the right was met by the Brazilian with a low right-footed finish as the Sheriff defence, which held Steaua Bucharest at bay in their first game, was finally breached.
Midfielder Wilfred Balima went closest to an equaliser when he headed Alexandr Suvorov’s corner straight at keeper Volkan Demirel, but the Turkish side, missing injured duo Daniel Guiza and Andre Santos, held on to go second in Group H.
Sheriff started brightly with Suvorov firing an early free-kick into the wall and both Vazha Tarkhnishvili and Balima off target from long range, before Semih fired wide from the visitors’ first meaningful attack.
Suvarov warmed Fener keeper Volkan Demirel’s hands for the first time with a fierce 30-yard drive which was held cleanly.
The hosts, for all their momentum, were restricted to long-range efforts, with Dorian Arbanas and Rustam Tsynya failing to test Demirel.
Fenerbahce’s Colin Kazim-Richards headed over when well placed before Alex shot wide, but the latter’s corner led to the best effort of the half.
The delivery was fired goalwards by Emre Belozoglu but home keeper Stanislav Namasco tipped over.
Suvorov shot over once more before Sheriff’s Alexander Erokin was booked for a foul on Emre.
Semih Senturk tested Namasco and Sheriff responded through Tarkhnishvili’s well-struck free-kick before Alex broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute.
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Emre fired wide from range before Balima’s effort
Suvorov sent another free-kick over Demirel’s crossbar and the Turkey shot-stopper denied substitute Amath Diedhiou before Igor Karpovich had his name taken by referee Aleksandar Stavrev for a foul on Semih.
Diedhiou went close again before another replacement, Andrei Corneencov, headed over and a last despairing effort from Diedhiou flashed wide to leave Sheriff empty-handed.
Fener will search for back-to-back wins in three weeks’ time against Steaua, who had their second successive goalless draw in the competition against Twente in Holland.
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