Fenerbahce 1 - 0 Feyenoord Rotterdam: Feyenoord's fine form ended by Fenerbahce in Istanbul

Posted Friday, September 30, 2016 by PA

Fenerbahce inflicted a first defeat of the season on Feyenoord with a 1-0 win in their Europa League Group A clash at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul.

Feyenoord had a 100% record from all seven Eredivisie matches and opened their European campaign with victory over Manchester United at De Kuip.

However, the Dutch side were unable to get a foothold in the match against a well-organised Turkish side, now managed by former Oranje boss Dick Advocaat.

Nigerian Emmanuel Emenike scored what proved to be the winner midway through the first half.

After a cagey opening, it was the home side who took the lead on 18 minutes following a swift counter attack.

Ozan Tufan broke clear down the right before feeding Emenike into the edge of the Feyenoord penalty area.

The forward set himself before drilling a low shot back across goal and into the bottom corner, off the inside of the left-hand post.

Captain Dirk Kuyt, who left the Super Lig club in 2015 to rejoin Feyenoord, was onto a through ball, but could not get the pass under control as goalkeeper Volkan Demirel cleared.

Tonny Vilhena had been on target in the win over Manchester United, but sent a long-range shot wide before Kuyt's effort from distance was blocked.

Fenerbahce pressed again early in the second half, this time Dutch defender Gregory van der Wiel forced Feyenoord keeper Brad Jones into a finger-tip save.

Jeremain Lens, the on-loan Sunderland winger, called Jones into action again to stop a 20-yard curling effort.

As the hour mark approached, Moussa Sow's acrobatic kick was bounced around through the Feyenoord penalty area and was almost turned past Jones, who produced another smart reaction save. Josef Souza then fired over after being picked out by Van der Wiel's cross.

Feyenoord beat the offside trap as Nicolai Jorgensen raced clear, but the Dane's attempted lob over the goalkeeper was hacked away by Martin Skrtel.

Fenerbahce should have made sure of the points with 12 minutes left when breaking from a quick throw by goalkeeper Volkan Demirel.

Lens scampered away down the right before cutting back inside into the penalty area and then stabbing the ball wide of the far post - with substitute Robin van Persie standing unmarked six yards out waiting for a tap-in against his boyhood club.

Feyenoord defender Terence Kongolo saw his close-range header saved as Giovanni van Bronckhorst's men suffered a first defeat since February.