Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe dropped three crucial points in their bid to keep pace with current leaders Galatasaray in the race for the league title, drawing in Istanbul on matchday 32 of the Turkish Super League, with only six games remaining until the end of the season.
Last night’s clash at the Ülker Stadium in Istanbul was, much to the embarrassment of the Portuguese coach’s team, with Fenerbahçe dominating almost completely and clearly winning the statistics in terms of possession and goal chances. However, it was their rivals, Kayserispor, who controlled the early stages of the match, taking the lead after just seven minutes thanks to a goal by Civelek, who slipped the ball between Livaković’s legs after his team stole the ball in midfield.
During those first few minutes, Fenerbahçe, despite playing at home and with their fans behind them, seemed out of sorts and unable to find their rhythm. It was not until the 36th minute that the team reacted when Talisca, in the six-yard box, finished off a pass from French striker Allan Saint-Maximin.
Early in the second half, it was Livaković himself who scored an own goal in the 3rd minute when a shot from Nazon that had hit the crossbar rebounded off the Fenerbahçe goalkeeper’s body and crossed the goal line. In the 64th minute, Mourinho’s side equalised again, thanks to another intervention by Saint-Maximin, who finished with a right-footed shot from almost the penalty spot that was unstoppable for Bayazıt, just as the Canaries were putting the Anatolian side under intense pressure.
A tactical error that cost Mourinho the match
Fenerbahçe dominated the game and had equalised, but they desired more: they needed the three points. The pressure on the rival team continued and, in the 75th minute, there was a controversial play in which Fenerbahçe players claimed a handball in the area by Sazdağı, a Kayserispor midfielder. After consulting VAR, the referee awarded a penalty, which Talisca converted in the 79th minute, scoring his second goal of the night.
With the score in their favour and just 10 minutes to go, Mourinho’s men decided however to sit back and defend their 3-2 lead. It was a bad decision. In added time, with their opponents more confident, Talha Sarıarslan scored with a beautiful header that no one saw coming, not even Livaković, after receiving a great cross from Sazdağı.
Kayserispor’s equaliser left the stands silent and Mourinho’s team in disbelief as they saw victory slip through their fingers. In the final minutes, there were chants from the fans calling for the resignation of club president Ali Koç and Mourinho.
In the post-match press conference, he acknowledged that his team should have won and that they were left without the three points because ‘we made too many mistakes’. Even so, the Portuguese coach did not miss the opportunity to criticise again the Turkish football: ‘When you win four or five games, you’re the best coach. But when things go wrong, you’re the worst. That’s not my culture, I’m more balanced,’ he said.
With this result, Fenerbahçe remain on 72 points and are now five points behind Galatasaray, who comfortably beat Bodrum FK and have only been defeated by Beşiktaş this season. Mourinho’s team has a lot of work ahead of them and cannot afford any more slip-ups if they want to prevent the Lions from winning a league title for the third consecutive season.
Results of the 32nd round of the Super League
ATAKAŞ HATAYSPOR 2 – 3 TÜMOSAN KONYASPOR
GALATASARAY A.Ş. 2 – 0 SİPAY BODRUM FK
KASIMPAŞA A.Ş. 3 – 1 NET GLOBAL SİVASSPOR
ADANA DEMİRSPOR A.Ş. 0 – 1 TRABZONSPOR A.Ş.
GÖZTEPE A.Ş. 1 – 1 BEŞİKTAŞ A.Ş.
RAMS BAŞAKŞEHİR FUTBOL KULÜBÜ 2 – 1 GAZİANTEP FUTBOL KULÜBÜ A.Ş.
ÇAYKUR RİZESPOR A.Ş. 1 – 0 İKAS EYÜPSPOR
FENERBAHÇE A.Ş. 3 – 3 BELLONA KAYSERİSPOR
CORENDON ALANYASPOR – REEDER SAMSUNSPOR
Turkish league: standings
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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