BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN ISTANBUL
IT was supposed to be the night Fenerbahce asserted their dominance in the Super Lig title race, but a catastrophic lapse from world-class goalkeeper Ederson turned a jubilant Sukru Saracoglu Stadium into a theatre of disbelief with the Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen thrown off balance.
In a match that had more twists than a Bosphorus backstreet, the Yellow Canaries were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against a resilient Caykur Rizespor side that simply refused to read the script.
The hosts, boasting a squad packed with Premier League pedigree and continental flair, were stunned just after the interval. Rizespor’s Ali Sowe silenced the home crowd in the 47th minute, firing the visitors into a shock lead. Fenerbahce looked lethargic, struggling to find the rhythm that has made them the most feared attacking force in Turkey this season.
The drama intensified in the 72nd minute when Rizespor’s Samet Akaydin saw red, leaving the visitors to defend their slender lead with ten men. The numerical advantage finally sparked the stars into life.
Summer signing Talisca—the man brought in to provide that touch of Brazilian magic—stepped up to the spot in the 80th minute. With the cool composure of a seasoned veteran, he slammed home a VAR-awarded penalty to level the scores.
Six minutes later, the stadium erupted. Kerem Aktürkoğlu, the dynamic Turkish international, ghosted into the box to slot home what everyone assumed was the winner. At 2-1, with the clock ticking into injury time, the points looked safe.
The Ederson Blunder
But in the 98th minute, disaster struck. A hopeful ball into the box seemed like bread and butter for Ederson, the Brazilian shot-stopper whose arrival from Manchester City was heralded as the final piece of the title puzzle.
However, a rare and inexplicable fumble from the keeper allowed Rizespor’s Modibo Sagnan to poke home an equalizer that left the Fenerbahce faithful in stunned silence. It was a “head-in-hands” moment for the keeper, whose mistake could prove pivotal in the race to catch leaders Galatasaray.
Despite the late fireworks, the result leaves Fenerbahce chasing shadows at the top of the table. For Rizespor, it was a point earned through sheer grit; for the Istanbul giants, it was two points dropped in the most agonizing fashion imaginable.
”In football, you can have all the stars in the world, but if you blink at the 98th minute, you pay the price.”
MATCH STATS
Goals: Talisca (80′ P), Aktürkoğlu (86′); Sowe (47′), Sagnan (90+8′)
Red Card: Akaydin (Rizespor, 72′)
Man of the Match: Ali Sowe (Rizespor)
