Sports writers evaluate the Fenerbahçe-Olympiacos match

In the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg, Fenerbahçe was defeated by Olympiacos in a penalty shootout at home, ending their European journey. Sports writers evaluated the Fenerbahçe-Olympiacos match.

The European adventure of our only remaining representative, Fenerbahçe, has come to an end in the Conference League.

Having lost 3-2 away to Olympiacos, the Yellow-Navies finished the second leg with a 1-0 lead. As the score remained unchanged during extra time, the match went to penalties. With Tadic, Cengiz Ünder, and Bonucci failing to convert their spot-kicks, Fenerbahçe closed its European chapter.

While head coach İsmail Kartal's substitutions drew reactions from fans, sports writers evaluated Fenerbahçe's performance.

UĞUR MELEKE: THE TIE WAS LOST AFTER THE SUBSTITUTIONS

"Yesterday, after the regular time ended 1-0, a completely different match began in Kadıköy. The Yellow-Navies looked more tired in these last thirty minutes. There was a more disjointed football on the pitch. The team was more colorless without Dzeko, İrfan, and Fred, all three of whom left the game looking unhappy, and this brought Olympiacos back into the game. Couldn't at least one or two of these players have finished the 120 minutes? It was clear from Fred's body language that he did not want to come off. Because while they were on the pitch, Fenerbahçe was playing better, and their quality was needed during the penalties." (HÜRRİYET)

GÜNTEKİN ONAY: THEY SERVED THE TIE ON A SILVER PLATTER

"This should never have happened; they served the tie on a silver platter" | Yesterday, the Olympiacos goalkeeper left his mark on the night by denying 3 goals in the penalty shootout. Despite finding an early goal, Fenerbahçe should never have lost this tie in Kadıköy in front of such an amazing crowd. Unfortunately, we did not see the necessary determination for the tie and a second goal in the second half and extra time. It's a pity; Fenerbahçe squandered a great opportunity." (HÜRRİYET)

GÜRCAN BİLGİÇ: THE BENCH WAS INSUFFICIENT

"I don't know if this is why the German referee was 'lacking' in his discretionary decisions, but his calls in critical positions were always against Fenerbahçe. Ntoi should have seen a second yellow card much earlier. Szymanski being fouled and the VAR ruling 'play on' is also debatable. Olympiacos showed that they are a complete system team. They turned their helplessness in the first half into a model that controlled the game, especially in extra time. Fenerbahçe didn't bring them to the goal during the match, but Olympiacos had the final say afterward. And then came the penalties... After that, it's just between the goalkeeper and the taker. The three most important players (Tadic, Cengiz, Bonucci) missed their penalties. It's unbelievable, but it happened. The Kadıköy night, which was full of beauty, ended up being a gift to Olympiacos. Even Livakovic's saves couldn't change the taste of the match." (SABAH)

BÜLENT TİMURLENK: WHY İSMAİL KARTAL?

"When Dzeko dropped deep from the center, he eased the game, but because the team wasn't making runs into the penalty area, the sterility in attack kept the neighbor's team alive... The Batshuayi substitution was correct, but the Brazilian player answered what it meant to take Fred off in the 86th minute in a match that had to go to extra time while coming to the sideline: 'Why?' After the first match, the last line of this column was: 'İsmail Kartal, who turned back from the edge of the cliff on the empty side of the glass.' He gave the game to the opponent until the 120th minute, and the chances too... Livakovic could have saved İsmail Kartal, who gifted the tie to his opponent in both matches, from the edge of the cliff in the penalties, but if only one of Tadic, Cengiz, or Bonucci could have scored..." (SABAH)

FAİK ÇETİNER: KARTAL WANTS THE SUPER LIG

"Since the visiting team lacked offensive skills, İrfan Can's goal took the game to penalties. When young goalkeeper Tzolakis saved the shots of Fenerbahçe's master feet Tadic, Cengiz Ünder, and Bonucci, we squandered the fortune that had come our way. Actually, I still think İsmail Kartal's mind is on the Super Lig. Why? Neither the game plan nor the player moves felt like they wanted the semi-finals. What do you think?" (FANATİK)

ERMAN ÖZGÜR: WHO IS TO BLAME?

"While İsmail Kartal had taken off the 3 most special players who could unsettle the opponent, Olympiacos became emboldened, but fortunately, their quality was not enough to change the scoreboard. In the end, despite the mistakes in the first match and the unreciprocated moves made in the second leg, Fenerbahçe took the job to penalties. However, Fenerbahçe took such bad penalties that even Livakovic couldn't bear it. In my opinion, Fenerbahçe was eliminated by a weaker team than itself. If you ask who is to blame, whether it's İsmail Kartal, who made very bad choices in both matches, the management that rejected the offer to postpone the Karagümrük match, or the players who were said to have practiced penalties." (FANATİK)

News Source: 12punto