GOALDEN TIMES
January 2012 7
Fenerbah�e left too much space for
Felipe Melo to score from a free
header to make it 3-0 for Galatasaray
lead in the 32 nd
minute from an assist by Elmander. Eight minutes later, Elmander grabbed the ball from
Bilica (Fabio Alves Da Silva) and netted a goal, thanks to a poor piece of goalkeeping from Volkan.
Fenerbah�e started the second half with a little more composure. Alex de Souza, their Brazilian captain ���� �Z}�]vP u}� ]v]�]�]� �� d}u� hi(o��] �� �}l �}o] � �Z 'o (vX &v�Z Z more possession of the ball during this half of the game but they failed to create clear chances for goals.
In the 66 th
minute, the Fenerbah�e defenders were caught sleeping when Melo got a free header to
score the third for the Yellow- Z� (�}u }�v� (�}u ^o�l 7vvX o� �}� }v�}o�]}v (}� &v� in the last minute of the game.
With the 3-1 win, Galatasaray
moved up to the top in the
league standings with superior
goal difference. A dejected
Aykut Kocaman, the Fener manager revealed after the game: "We are truly very upset. We had to have
dominance over Galatasaray and we were supposed to direct the game. However, we failed in meeting
our expectations and we did not perform at our utmost in the first half of the game. In the second half,
we seemed to play better but that did not help us win the necessary points at the end. Now we have to
focus on the upcoming game against Bursaspor."
In terms of overall quality of football, the game might not have scored enough to be topmost in my
memory but the sheer intensity and energy among the Gala fans before, during and after the game sure Z�X /�[� Z� �} ��] �Z �u}��Z� ]v �}��V ����o�]�� o]l Zu}�� o��](�]vP[ u� o�} �u understated. They all sang for Cim bom on their way back home. Even the most helpless of Gala fans Zv[� ��]� e expected the score they saw. Little wonder that the score was discussed the next day; it
will continue to be discussed in offices, bars and bedrooms until the two fiercest of rivals meet again.