A 88th minute goal from Semih Senturk saw Fenerbahce secure a battling 3-2 win over Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

The spirited Spanish side hit back twice after going behind but despite an injury time chance from Frederic Kanoute, they could not find a third equaliser.

Sevilla started strongly battering the Fenerbahce defence as first Kanoute and then Seydou Keita tested opposition keeper Volkan Demirel.

The Turk, outstanding all night, proved himself equal to the task early on holding on to the two difficult shots despite getting a very late viewing of the ball as it passed through a mass of bodies in front of him.

Despite all their good work up front, though, Sevilla looked vulnerable at the back and came undone at the first real test with a spot of miscommunication between Julien Escude and Ivica Dragutinovic allowing Mateja Kezman acres of space between them from which to head home Ugur Boral's cross.

It took just six minutes though for Sevilla to get the equaliser they were looking as Edu Dracena turned the ball into the back of his own net whilst trying to prevent Daniel Alves' admittedly tricky cross from reaching Luis Fabiano at the far post.

Fenebahce continued to expose the shaky Sevilla defence with Mehmet Aurelio almost giving his side the lead for the second time heading a Gokhan Gonul cross towards the top right hand corner only to see a diving Andres Palop turn the ball away right at the last second.

Alex also had a great chance to put the hosts back ahead on the stroke of halftimewhen the ball fell kindly for him, as Palop blocked Edu's header, but the Brazilian send the ball skidding past the left post from six yards out and Fenerbahce had to be content with a 1-1 scoreline at the interval.

Sevilla came out for the second half firing on all cylinders, in much the same way as they started the match when Demirel again proving the hero for his side as he leapt up to his left in order to turn Kanoute's long-range bullet around the post.

But Fenerbahce survived the danger period and before taking the lead again as Diego Lugano took advantage of another piece of poor defending to send a routine but powerful header into the top right hand corner of the net from Roberto Carlos' corner.

One thing Sevilla could not be faulted on was their fighting spirit, however, and then got themselves back in the match less than 10 minutes later when Escude got himself on the scoreboard.

Alves won a free kick on the right wing after being brought down by Roberto Carlos and earned his side a corner when Demirel produced his only poor moment of the night, having to backtrack rapidly after misjudging the flight of the ball.

The Turkish keeper turned the ball behind before Kanoute header, from Christian Poulson's corner, found Escude waiting at the far post. From there the Spaniard emphatically slammed the ball into the top of the net to level up.

But the drama was not finished yet and substitute Semih secured the vital win for the hosts firing the ball along the ground and into the bottom right hand corner of the net, taking a small deflection from Dragutinovic on the way through.

Sevilla created one last, desperate attempt to get level with Kanoute trying a right-footed volley from the penalty spot after Demirel had parried Alves' cross straight at him. But the ball was behind the Mali international and he was always struggling to keep it down.

Despite the obvious disappointment of the win, however, Sevilla will still be confident heading into the return leg at home in two weeks time having put two away goals on the board.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport