The German coach also praised the opponents, saying the Lions showed great courage in creating scoring opportunities after they were left with only 10 men on the field. He didn't have to add that they did not score and that their own lack of mental discipline led them to be short a man in the crucial final 20 minutes of the match.
The fact is that Galatasaray let themselves be intimidated by the home crowd at FB Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Kadıköy and perhaps by the mystique or the voodoo or the hex or curse or whatever has prevented the Lions from winning at the stadium in over 10 years. The frustration got to them. The Fenerbahçe Canaries totally outclassed Galatasaray in the first half. You just can't allow that in Kadıköy and expect to make up the difference later.
When Kazım Kazım on the left punched one toward center, Roberto Carlos passed it in front of the goal where captain Alex de Souza only had to tap the ball in. It looked so easy, and it was, with the Lions' defenders practically sleepwalking on the field. That 12th minute goal should have woken up the Galatasaray defense, but they needed the repeat-alarm function, which the Canaries provided by keeping possession and maintaining pressure on goal.
Galatasaray made some attempts at goal, but just as often, they threw their chances away, midfielders, for example, passing directly to Fenerbahçe players at least four times. The resulting Canaries' pressure on goal began to tell on Spanish keeper Leo Franco, who misjudged an attack by Alex after the half and tried to make up for his mistake by tackling the player, reaching from the ground with arm outstretched and grabbing the Fener captain by the ankle. Alex slotted in the resulting penalty shot, which instead of destroying the Lions' morale piqued them into action. They scored their first goal of the game shortly after, and the tempo of the match changed, anything looked possible.
Galatasaray coach Frank Rijkaard said they “were still hoping, especially after making it 2-1, when we began to succeed in limiting Fener and brought the ball back to them.” But change wasn’t happening fast enough for Ivory Coast striker Kader Keita, who found himself penned in by Carlos and reacted by punching the Brazilian on the side of his head, and this right in front of referee Bünyamin Gezer. The ref had no choice but to show him a red card, ending the match for Keita and reducing the Lions to 10 men just when they needed all the help they could get.
“To be left to finish such a match one man short is a disgraceful situation,” said Rijkaard. “Keita basically threw himself out of the game. Before the match, we warned everyone, told all our players not to react to provocations. Keita’s action there was not cleverly done, for up to then we’d begun to get control in our hands. We can’t accept being down to 10 players and Keita has to learn this.” Keita had earlier been shown a yellow card for faking he’d been hit when he was the one who had fouled, so it was a real off day for the usually great player. And his lack of self-discipline will cost the Lions down the road, for the playmaker is likely to be suspended for three matches.
The Carlos-Keita fracas, taken in a larger context, shows the psychological and mental advantage Fener had in Carlos, for the 36-year-old Brazilian played with zeal, driven on defense with one idea: get the ball away from the goal. He was single-minded in his determination, but the Lions played unevenly, even if they did almost tie the game near the end. Fenerbahçe proved unforgiving of any leeway provided.
Granted, it’s easy to talk when you’re not the one being hounded by jeers and pelted by ice and water bottles. Keita had earlier been struck by a water bottle, and assistant referee Tarık Ongun was also hit by an object and needed medical attention. Fenerbahçe loves that home-field advantage, but they will lose it for a time, as the Turkish Soccer Federation (TFF) is likely to issue a fine and close Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium as a penalty for the fans’ unruly behavior. The Canaries play their next three matches away, so they will not pay the price until at least week 14, when they are scheduled to host Kasimpaşaspor.
Canaries in seventh heaven
So far the Canaries have won their psychological battles with all contenders for the throne. Fener captain Alex said it all after the match. “Galatasaray’s a big team, and we prepared with that in mind,” said Alex. “There’s no big secret to soccer. When you have the ball that’s the time to play, and when your opponent has the ball you have to defend.”
Galatasaray coach Rijkaard admitted as much, vowing after the match to concentrate on beefing up his defensive coordination. “Şükrü Saracoğlu is a very tough stadium for us,” he said. “The opposition put a lot of pressure on us and played aggressively. We fought in a difficult atmosphere.”
Both Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray won their UEFA Europe League matches last week ahead of the derby, the Lions scoring four goals at home against Dinamo Bucharest and Fener nipping Steaua Bucharest 1-0 away. Both teams came in motivated by victories, but Fener closed down the red-and-gold scoring machine in the mother of all derbies. Canaries coach Daum has given his younger counterpart at Galatasaray a homework assignment. Time will tell if this pupil can beat his master.
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