A confident display and three superb goals from Fenerbahce saw them defeat CSKA Moscow 3-1 in Istanbul, whilst PSV huffed and puffed their way to a 0-1 home defeat against Internazionale.

The results mean that Fenerbahce will join Inter in the last 16 of the Champions League.

A listless PSV side managed only one shot on target in 90 minutes and, for all their possession and patient build-up, play they never tested Inter keeper Julio Cesar. The Dutch side went into this game knowing that a draw might not be enough, and that a defeat was unthinkable. Their precarious plight wasn't helped when Edison Mendez was sent off after just 28 minutes for a rash challenge from behind on David Suazo.

After the red card PSV never looked like scoring, but Inter were far from at their best, either. The Italian champions started the game as Group G winners, and it showed in a laid-back, below-par performance. Without the suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and with key players Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti left on the bench, Inter lacked any sense of urgency and were happy to defend solidly while watching PSV's various strikes go high and wide.

The game's only goal came on 64 minutes, when Julio Cruz tapped in after excellent work down the left flank by David Suazo. The Argentinian made up for a shocking miss minutes earlier, when he fired over the bar with just Heurelho Gomes to beat.

FENERBAHCE 3-1 CSKA MOSCOW

By contrast, the encounter between Fenerbahce and CSKA Moscow in Istanbul was full of drama and open, attacking play. CSKA went into this game knowing they had already finished bottom of the group, while Fenerbahce knew a win would secure them qualification in the runners-up spot. Zico's side took a leaf out of the Brazilian handbook, playing with flair and pace, utilising samba duo Roberto Carlos on the left flank and Alex in the midfield.

Yet it was CSKA who took the lead in ludicrous fashion on the half-hour, completely against the run of play. Edu tapped the ball into his own net when Fenerbahce goalkeeper Volkan Demirel looked to have the situation easily covered. The packed Sukru Saracoglu stadium fell into an embarrassed silence but the misery did not last long.

Fenerbahce showed tremendous resolve and character by responding immediately. Alex, who enjoyed a superb evening, controlled the ball brilliantly with his chest before firing past Igor Akinfeyev in the CSKA goal from fully thirty yards out. Full of power, speed and accuracy, it was undoubtedly one of the finest goals of the group stages.

Alex turned provider in injury time at the end of the eventful first half.

In his first Champions League appearance of the season, Ugur Boral scored an excellent goal from inside the area. After playing a neat one-two with Alex, Boral finished in clinical style and made it 2-1 on the stroke of half-time.

An equally entertaining second half saw Akinfeyev pull off some superb saves from Roberto Carlos and Boral. The home side kept the pressure up and looked comfortable throughout, but it took another injury time goal this time in the 92nd minute to seal the win. Boral, undoubtedly the man of the match, powered in a header from an outstanding cross on the right flank by Mahmet Aurelio. Predictably, the stadium erupted, Zico was delighted and, at the fifth attempt, Fenerbahce progressed from the Champions League group stage.

Eddie de Oliveira / Eurosport