Goztepe stun Fenerbahce 2-1 with late comeback in Super Lig

By Halis Sunnetci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Goztepe came from behind to defeat Fenerbahce 2-1 away from home on Saturday in Week 10 of the Turkish Super Lig, handing the Istanbul club its second consecutive league defeat.

Sinclair Armstrong and Andre Henrique scored twice in two minutes late in the second half to overturn Matteo Guendouzi's first-half opener.

The defeat added to Fenerbahce's struggles under interim head coach Dirk Kuyt, who took charge after Ismail Kartal resigned following Monday's 2-1 derby defeat to Galatasaray.

Fenerbahce started brightly, with Oguz Aydin forcing a save from Goztepe’s goalkeeper Arda Ozcimen in the ninth minute.

The visitors responded in the 19th minute when Janderson broke into the penalty area and tested Ederson, who turned the ball behind for a corner.

Goztepe nearly took the lead in the 44th minute, but Ederson saved Malcom Bokele's header from a corner.

Fenerbahce broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time when Romelu Lukaku laid the ball off to Guendouzi, whose first-time low shot from the edge of the penalty area found the net in the 45+1st minute.

The hosts entered halftime with the advantage.

Goztepe threatened shortly after the restart when Arda Okan Kurtulan intercepted an errant Ederson pass and set up Juan, but the Brazilian goalkeeper recovered to deny the close-range effort.

Fenerbahce had a chance to double their lead in the 64th minute, but Lukaku failed to connect with Oguz Aydin's low cross.

Kerem Akturkoglu then struck the post from inside the penalty area in the 71st minute.

Goztepe equalized in the 76th minute when Armstrong capitalized on Guendouzi's misplaced clearance, beat Milan Skriniar and fired a low shot past Ederson.

The visitors completed the turnaround two minutes later as Henrique headed home Tino Anjorin's corner in the 78th minute to make it 2-1.

The result marked the third time this season that Fenerbahce lost a league match after taking the lead, following identical 2-1 defeats against Genclerbirligi and Besiktas.

Fenerbahce remained on 16 points after 10 matches, nine behind league leaders Galatasaray.

Goztepe climbed to 15 points after securing their fourth consecutive league victory.

Halis Sünnetci