Sustained Defeat in Turkey
Lokomotiv sustained a defeat at the hands of Fenerbahce in the first-leg match of the Europa League round of 32.
Fenerbahce were placed as favourites before the game. Their star-studded line-up always draws a full house of some very noisy supporters. And the players are well into the season as the Turkish championship is at full swing.
Nevertheless, from the beginning Fenerbahce did not enjoy any advantage. Each side battled for possession and pressured the other. By the tenth minute, the rivals had already exchanged long-range attempts. On 12 minutes, the home team created the first real danger when van Persie picked out a long cross from the deep and diverted the ball goalward, but Guilherme was quick enough to save.
In one of the following attacks Fenerbahce did manage to find the right head in the away side's area, and Souza bulleted it past the helpless Guilherme from a few meters’ distance. Having scored, the Yellow Canaries stepped up the pressure, but towards the end of the first half Lokomotiv balanced the play.
After the break Fenerbahce shifted up gear. In the middle of the second half there was a spell when the Turks locked us up in the penalty area and eventually scored another goal – Souza found another opportunity when he found himself unmarked near the far post. In the injury time Guilherme rescued the Railwaymen once more from Fernando’s straight shot.
The return match is due to take place in Moscow on the 25th of February.
Europa League, round of 32. First leg
Fenerbahce – Lokomotiv - 2:0 (1:0)
Goals scored: Souza 18 (1:0). Souza, 72 (2:0)
Fenerbahce: Fabiano, Kjaer, Bruno Alves, Gonul, Topal, Souza (Kadlec, 83), Tufan, Sen (Potuk, 78). Erkin, van Percie (Fernando, 78), Nani
Lokomotiv: Guilherme, Pejcinovic, Durica, Denisov, Yanbaev, Kasaev (Maicon, 62 (Mykhalyk, 75)), Fernandes, Samedov, Tarasov, Ndinga, Skuletic (Miranchuk, 80)
Bookings: Tarasov, 44. Mykhalyk, 86. Kadlec, 90
Referee: Martin Strombergsson (Sweden)
16 February, Istanbul (Turkey). Sukru Saracoglu stadium
