Fenerbahçe's title hopes dented by shocking draw
Fenerbahçe’s title aspirations suffered a major setback after a frustrating 2-2 draw with Corendon Alanyaspor, where a late goalkeeping error and a missed penalty cost them two crucial points and left fans calling for the resignation of club president Ali Koç.
Fenerbahçe, hosting Corendon Alanyaspor in a rescheduled match, let two points slip through their fingers in a chaotic 2-2 draw. The Yellow Canaries, who came from behind to lead 2-1, saw their potential victory evaporate in the final moments, leaving them four points behind league leaders Galatasaray after five games.
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A game of two halves
The match started poorly for Fenerbahçe. In the 18th minute, Alanyaspor's İbrahim Kaya scored the opener, pouncing on a long pass behind the defense and firing a powerful shot past Fenerbahçe goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat. Despite several chances for both teams, the score remained 1-0 at halftime, with Fenerbahçe looking uncharacteristically out of sync.
The second half began with a renewed sense of urgency from the home side. Fenerbahçe was awarded a penalty in the 56th minute after a VAR review confirmed a handball by Enes Keskin. However, star forward Anderson Talisca, who had also missed a penalty in a previous match, stepped up and saw his shot saved by Alanyaspor’s keeper Ertuğrul Taşkıran, compounding Fenerbahçe's frustration.
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Comeback and collapse
Fenerbahçe finally found their rhythm, with Portuguese defender Nelson Semedo leveling the score in the 72nd minute with a powerful strike from inside the box—his first goal for the club. The momentum shifted entirely when Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri put Fenerbahçe ahead just four minutes later, slotting home from close range after a precise cross from Archie Brown. It was En-Nesyri's fourth goal of the season, extending his impressive scoring streak to three consecutive matches.
Just as a hard-fought victory seemed imminent, disaster struck. In the 93rd minute, Alanyaspor’s Yusuf Özdemir headed the ball towards goal. In a moment of sheer panic, goalkeeper İrfan Can Eğribayat fumbled the save, allowing the ball to trickle into the net for the equalizer. The catastrophic error cost Fenerbahçe the win and immediately drew the ire of the home crowd, who booed the keeper and began chanting for the resignation of club president Ali Koç.
The match ended in a disappointing draw, leaving a bitter taste for Fenerbahçe players and fans alike. The two dropped points could prove costly in the tightly contested title race, and the late-game drama highlighted deeper issues that the club will need to address...
