Eyüpspor holds Fenerbahçe to a draw, Mame Baba Thiam’s assist key in stalemate

Eyüpspor secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Fenerbahçe on Friday in the Süper Lig, thanks to a standout performance from their goalkeeper and a crucial assist from Mame Baba Thiam.

The match, which marked the opening game of the 17th round of fixtures, saw the promoted side hold their own against one of Turkey’s top teams.

Despite a previous defeat to Kasımpaşa, Eyüpspor showed resilience in their encounter with Fenerbahçe, currently second in the league standings.

The match witnessed a stellar performance from Eyüpspor’s 24-year-old goalkeeper Berke Özer, who made eight crucial saves to deny Fenerbahçe’s attacking force, including star striker Edin Džeko.

Eyüpspor took the lead in the 26th minute, with Ahmed Kutuçu converting a precise pass from Senegalese forward Mame Baba Thiam.

The goal came as a result of excellent link-up play between the two, with Thiam’s vision and delivery setting up Kutuçu for a well-taken finish.

Fenerbahçe, however, responded strongly just before halftime. In the fourth minute of added time, Youssef En-Nesyri equalized for the visitors, leveling the score at 1-1.

Despite Fenerbahçe’s dominance in the latter stages, Eyüpspor’s defense, led by Özer, stood firm to secure the draw.

Eyüpspor’s performance in this match further solidified their impressive start to the season, as they remain in fourth place in the Süper Lig standings.

With a well-organized defense and key contributions from players like Thiam, the newly promoted side continues to punch above their weight in Turkey’s top flight.