Sports writers evaluate the Çaykur Rizespor - Fenerbahçe match: This is how you strike gold from mud

In the 26th week of the Super Lig, Fenerbahçe was the guest of Çaykur Rizespor.

The Yellow-Navies came from behind in a match where the pitch conditions took center stage, defeating their opponent 3-1 and moving to the top of the table with a game in hand.

Playing sluggish football in the first half, Fenerbahçe went into the locker room trailing 1-0.

Head coach İsmail Kartal brought Serdar Dursun, Mert Hakan Yandaş, and İrfan Can Kahveci into the game in the second half. All 3 players had a direct impact on the score and played a significant role in the victory.

Sports writers evaluated the Çaykur Rizespor - Fenerbahçe match.

GÜNTEKİN ONAY: THEY SHOWED CHARACTER IN THE SECOND HALF

Fenerbahçe, unable to execute their game plan in the first half, failed to produce in attack and left gaps in defense. İsmail Kartal made a radical change for the second half, taking out Szymanski and Krunic, who have been extremely inadequate in performance for weeks, and bringing on Mert Hakan and İrfan Can Kahveci. Serdar Dursun also took the field as a second striker alongside Dzeko, replacing Cengiz, who is not a player for this type of pitch and failed to deliver.

The 3 points earned against Rizespor yesterday came through İsmail Kartal's radical moves. Just as Coach İsmail's substitutions were criticized during the Samsunspor and Alanyaspor draws, he deserved applause yesterday. With pitch conditions and the game being so poor, a team going into the locker room 1-0 down turning the match around despite these negatives could be a turning point. (Hürriyet)

ERCAN GÜVEN: THIS IS HOW YOU STRIKE GOLD FROM MUD!

Fenerbahçe, which started the second half trailing 1-0, was first made robust and fearless, suitable for the pitch and the opponent. Krunic, Szymanski, and Cengiz, who were struggling, were taken out; Mert Hakan, İrfan Can, and Serdar Dursun were brought on. Three minutes later, Serdar Dursun picked up where he left off, and the equalizer came.

İrfan Can, who is having the season of his career, made the difference and declared himself the owner of the left wing with the third goal he scored at the end of the match. Dzeko, who was brought into the game by Serdar Dursun, ensured Fenerbahçe took the lead with an assist from Mert Hakan, whose self-confidence returned after watching Krunic. (Milliyet)

FAİK ÇETİNER: KARTAL’S COURAGE

İsmail Kartal's moves at the start of the second half were surprising. He took out Szymanski, Krunic, and Cengiz Ünder and brought on İrfan Can Kahveci, Mert Hakan, and Serdar Dursun (a great show of courage). Right at the beginning of this half, Serdar Dursun tapped in the ball that İrfan Can Kahveci sent from the right wing into the six-yard box, bringing relief to those on the pitch and the bench.

Fenerbahçe did a great job turning the match around in 45 minutes after falling behind on a pitch that generally resembled a field and where dribbling was difficult. We said the Alanyaspor draw last week was on İsmail Kartal. They say, "Give credit where credit is due." The one who turned the match around with courageous substitutions was undoubtedly head coach İsmail Kartal. This victory is also on him.

GÜRCAN BİLGİÇ: THEY DEFEATED EVERYTHING, NOT JUST THE OPPONENT

After the first 45 minutes of surrender, İsmail Kartal wasn't just changing players; he also put heart into the game. The mind of the match changed, and so did its philosophy...

Due to the water accumulating on the sidelines, Fenerbahçe's "fullback overlaps" were neutralized. On top of this, the pitch effectively shrank by 30 percent. You can't build play with passes, and you fall under the opponent's control in the narrowed space. Despite these, Fenerbahçe won... Meaning; they actually defeated "everything." The pressure from last week's draw, the referee who disrupted their rhythm with reverse fouls just as they had gained control of the game, a Rizespor that fought near-perfectly, and the pitch that destroyed all their talents... (Sabah)

News Source: 12punto