Did Union get lead in its wings in its 44th game of the season? For fifteen minutes, the Belgian leader flashed as he has been racing through the Jupiler Pro League since September. But a goal from Michy Batshuayi, born in Brussels, formed in Anderlecht and Liège, handed Union its first European home defeat. Fenerbahçe supporters set the Anderlecht Lotto Park on fire before kick-off, and the players of the Istanbul team then extinguished the fire themselves with controlled mastery.
Union, which had only lost 5 times in 44 matches, started the match with its proven hardcore method. The midfielders and attackers were close to the visitors, capturing ball after ball and trying to disrupt the Turkish defense with fast, vertical play. For fifteen minutes, Union stormed as usual, but the offensive did not produce any dangerous opportunities. Mohamed Amoura lacked sharpness and the central defenders did not have too much trouble taking the sting out of the Brussels attacks. The Union players also failed to make Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic sweat from a series of corners.
A restart on the other side did result in a goal. Ismail Yüskek trumped Ross Sykes in the air after a long free kick, Michy Batshuayi escaped the attention of Christian Burgess, took the ball with his thigh and finished dry into the roof of the goal. Union keeper Anthony Moris had no chance against the effort of his former Standard teammate.
Guarantee of goals
Batshuayi fulfills the role at Fenerbahçe that he was assigned for years at the Red Devils. He is not always a basic player, but guarantees goals when he is played in the box. In the pecking order of the national team, Loïs Openda threatens him; when it comes to pure finishing, few strikers in Europe are his equal.
The counter goal put out the fire in the Brussels attacking drive. Fenerbahçe took control and substitute Ferdi Kadioglu had an excellent chance on the counter for the Turks. Shortly before half time, Brazilian midfielder Fred fired a lost ball just wide of the wrong side of the post. Batshuayi missed a chest check to score his second goal of the night.
Nerves took hold of Union and both trainer Alexander Blessin and Mohamed Amoura received a yellow card just before half time. Yet the German coach sent his troops onto the field unchanged with renewed promises for the second half.
Even after the break, Union continued to press, but lacked the ingenuity to pry open the Turkish lock. There were hardly any big chances without Gustaf Nilsson’s attempt going wide. The Swede showed surrender, but like several of his teammates seemed to hit his limits. Puertas was at a high level, but could not roll up Fenerbahçe on his own.
Against Frankfurt, Union had fallen 0-2 behind ten minutes into the first half, against Fenerbahçe it happened ten minutes before the end. After an alleged mistake on Nilsson, the Dutchman Jayden Oosterwolde was able to attack Moris at speed. The Union defenders were too slow to retrieve him.
Fire arrows
After the 0-2, the fans lit flares again. Things got worse for Union deep into stoppage time when Christian Burgess caused a penalty that Dusan Tadic, the best man on the pitch, converted. 0-3 was a tough verdict.
The flare-ups will cost Fenerbahçe an expensive fine, which the Turkish club will pay with a smile if it qualifies for the quarter-finals in a week’s time. Union needs more than a stunt in Istanbul and will once again focus on the Belgian competition and a home match against AA Gent on Sunday.
Goals: 20′ Batshuayi 0-1; 84′ Oosterwolde 0-2; 90’+4 Tadic 0-3 (pen)
