Deivid crowns Fenerbahçe fightback
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, 04-02-2008 at 06:02 PM (1509 Views)
Deivid's spectacular long-range effort nine minutes from time gave Fenerbahçe SK a UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg win against Chelsea FC that had seemed most unlikely when the same player scored an early own goal.
Tie turned
Chelsea, who have won three ties at this stage in the past four seasons, looked in control after that opening gift. But after being under pressure for much of the first half, the knockout phase debutants responded following the break and London-born substitute Kazım Kazım turned the tie with a neat left-footed finish before Deivid's moment of redemption left next Tuesday's return at Stamford Bridge perfectly poised.
Wide men
The anticipation of the biggest European match in their 100-year history had Fenerbahçe fans thronging outside the Sükrü Saraçoglu Stadium from early afternoon and by the kick-off fervent would be a severe understatement of the atmosphere. With regular full-backs Gökhan Gönül and Roberto Carlos absent through suspension and injury respectively, Chelsea manager Avram Grant opted to test replacements Önder Turacı and Gökçek Vederson by deploying Florent Malouda and Joe Cole in advanced wide roles. The Englishman had an early chance but Volkan Demirel was wise to his chip.
Own goal
However it was Malouda, making his first start since 8 March, who created the opening goal. The French international, chasing a clever Frank Lampard back-heel, cut back in the box and Deivid turned the ball inside his own near post, the third consecutive UEFA Champions League game here in which the visitors' opening goal has come from a home player. Michael Essien, starting at right-back for Chelsea, then advanced forward and his powerful drive skimmed the crossbar.
Drogba threat
Former Chelsea forward Mateja Keman cut an isolated figure as Fenerbahçe's lone striker, though a Mehmet Aurélio pass flew just behind him in the box. By contrast, his busy counterpart Didier Drogba headed Essien's cross just wide and stung Volkan Demirel's hands with an angled shot. Home midfielder Claudio Maldonado was having to spend much of his UEFA competition debut in defence, while Carlo Cudicini, continuing in the Chelsea goal for the injured Petr Čech, had a more straightforward first half.
Revamp
Fenerbahçe did threaten early in the second period as a testing Önder Turacı centre only just eluded captain Alex. Drogba responded, again forcing Volkan Demirel to save, and Zico decided to revamp the home attack with the introduction of Kazım Kazım. A well-worked corner ended with Keman's overhead effort being blocked by Cudicini, but again Chelsea moved forward and Lampard's teasing free-kick was headed over by Ricardo Carvalho.
Equaliser
Volkan Demirel dived to stop Michael Ballack's attempt from distance, and in similar circumstances Alex made Cudicini work. And soon after the Italian was beaten as a superb Mehmet Aurélio pass from halfway sent Kazım Kazım clear, who coolly controlled and shot in to level the tie. Ballack nearly restored the visitors' lead, but again Volkan Demirel was in the right place.
Winner
Unsurprisingly the volume inside the arena was now ear-splitting and Deivid was unlucky not to turn it up further as he just misjudged an acrobatic attempt similar to the one that stunned FC Internazionale Milano on Matchday 1. But something more spectacular was coming, a strike from 30 metres out that swerved beyond Cudicini's dive to give the home side their fifth successive home win in this season's competition and the edge in the tie.
İuefa.com













