Souza helps Fernerbahce sink Moscow

Souza was the unlikely goalscoring hero with one in each half as Fenerbahçe claimed a commanding victory over rusty Lokomotiv Moscow in the Uefa Europa League round of 32 on Tuesday.

The industrious Brazilian midfielder's striking abilities are not among his strongest assets, but he was in the right place at the right time 18 minutes from the first and last whistles as the hosts dominated in Istanbul.

Fenerbahçe started the first leg with real tempo and their wing play looked astute from kick-off. Visiting keeper Guilherme denied Robin van Persie early on after great work from Volkan Sen yet the pressure soon told. Gökhan Gönül delivered the cross and Souza headed it into the bottom corner.

Fenerbahçe began the second period with renewed urgency as they sought to drive home the advantage. Van Persie went close and as his side laid siege to the visitors' box, a second goal seemed only a matter of time.

Lokomotiv, in their first outing since 10 December, held out until 72 minutes. Caner Erkin's cross was just too high for Van Persie but fell kindly for Souza, who guided it in first time. Fenerbahçe are firmly in the driving seat.

For a team boasting several star men, Souza would not be a likely candidate for goalscoring hero. Yet the 27-year-old's incursions into the opposition area were lethal and for both his goals he showed perfect vision to predict the play. A night to remember.

A 3-1 opening-day home defeat by Molde was not the best of starts for Fenerbahçe, yet the Turkish outfit are growing in confidence and now six matches unbeaten in the competition. Clean sheets in four of their last five games in that sequence helps.

Lokomotiv are usually tough opponents, as Fenerbahçe's city rivals Besiktas would attest, but after two months without a match and with Baye Oumar Niasse having moved on during the winter, they had no answer.