Fenerbahçe threw away a two-goal lead in Istanbul as Slavia Prague substitute Pavel Kacor volleyed a 90th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw in the Champions League on Tuesday. Oğuz Aydın and Mason Greenwood had put the hosts in control inside 11 minutes, but Lukáš Provod pulled one back and Kacor broke home hearts at the death — leaving Fenerbahçe still winless in this season's league phase.
A dream start in Istanbul
Ismail Kartal's side arrived at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium needing a response. Fenerbahçe had opened their league phase with a draw against Roma, then been hammered 6-0 by Aston Villa last week — a humiliation that made a fast start here feel less like a luxury and more like a necessity in front of their own supporters.
They got it. Four minutes in, Oğuz Aydın opened the scoring from a Milan Škriniar assist, and on 11 minutes Mason Greenwood doubled the lead, finishing from a Nélson Semedo pass to make it 2-0. At that point Istanbul was bouncing and Slavia Prague — pointless after defeats by Lens and by Sabah in Baku — looked in danger of being swept away.
Provod hits back, Kacor breaks hearts
The comeback began almost immediately. On 15 minutes Lukáš Provod made it 2-1 after Mattéo Guendouzi gave the ball away on the edge of his own box, an error The Sun's live coverage flagged as the turning point of the first half. Fenerbahçe's night got harder still when Nathan Aké was forced off injured on 21 minutes, replaced by Kojo Peprah Oppong, and the hosts never quite recovered their early rhythm.
The numbers told the story of an even contest rather than a home procession: Slavia edged the shot count 15-14, Fenerbahçe shaded possession 51 to 49 per cent, and both sides pushed their benches hard. Kartal sent on Romelu Lukaku for Vedat Muriqi just after the hour and withdrew Greenwood late on, while Jindřich Trpišovský's decisive move came on 86 minutes, when Pavel Kacor replaced Mubarak Suleiman.
Four minutes later Kacor delivered. As The Times' Champions League live blog described it, Emmanuel Ayaosi broke down the right flank and swung in a tempting cross, and Kacor dived at it and stabbed it into the net on the volley in the 90th minute. There were no red cards — three yellows for the hosts, one for Slavia — but the damage was done all the same: 2-2, and two points dropped that felt like a defeat.
So what: two points from three, and Liverpool next
The league-phase table is unforgiving reading for both clubs. Fenerbahçe move to just two points from three matches — a draw, a six-goal defeat and now a draw thrown away — and remain without a win, while Slavia's late point is their first of the campaign after two straight defeats. With five league-phase games still to play, both are already playing catch-up in the race for the top 24 and a place in the knockout round play-offs, and neither can afford many more nights like this.
What comes next raises the stakes further. Before Europe returns, Fenerbahçe face the small matter of a derby away to Galatasaray on 26 October, and then host Liverpool in Istanbul on Matchday 4 on Wednesday 4 November. Slavia, meanwhile, welcome Arsenal to Prague on the same night. Tuesday's late window underlined the level waiting for both, headlined by Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona — a tie for which Luis Enrique has drawn up a plan to stop Lamine Yamal.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Fenerbahçe did the hardest part twice — they started perfectly and they were still winning in the 90th minute — and still did not win. A two-goal lead at home, against a side with no points, has to be three points at this level; instead Guendouzi's error opened the door and Kacor kicked it down. Slavia deserve credit for refusing to fold, but for Kartal this was a self-inflicted wound that leaves his side winless and staring at Liverpool next. Was this two points thrown away by Fenerbahçe, or a point brilliantly earned by Slavia? Let us know in the comments.
