fenerbahçe exact their revenge published: thursday 9 december 2004
fenerbahçe sk 3-0 manchester united fc tuncay sanli's hat-trick ensures fenerbahçe avenge a 6-2 defeat.
by steve bryant at sükrü saraçoglu stadium fenerbahçe sk took revenge on manchester united fc for their heavy matchday 2 defeat at old trafford by beating a depleted visiting side thanks to a hat-trick from livewire winger tuncay sanli.
lyon pip united united were already through from group d, but finish second following their first defeat in turkey after olympique lyonnais cruised to victory against bottom team ac sparta praha. for fenerbahçe the win was some consolation for their 6-2 bruising at old trafford and will give them fresh confidence when they move on to the uefa cup.
new-look visitors with united manager sir alex ferguson resting many of his top players ahead of a busy christmas schedule, the visitors fielded a 4-4-1-1 formation spearheaded by david bellion but short of first-team stars. cristiano ronaldo - the only survivor from their weekend win against southampton fc - was wide on the right and liam miller played in the hole behind bellion.
nobre fit fenerbahçe already knew they were heading for the uefa cup place and have a crucial istanbul derby with galatasaray sk on sunday, but coach christoph daum did not opt to rest his strongest players. márcio nobre had shaken off a bout of flu to be passed fit and led the attack, supported by fellow brazilian alex with regular striker pierre van hooijdonk out due to an achilles tendon problem. önder turaci came in at right-back to replace the injured deniz baris.
early efforts the home side looked the more assured in the opening minutes. captain and left-back ümit özat led a series of probing drives down his flank and it was one of those overlapping runs that won tuncay the space for a drive on goal in the sixth minute. tim howard held it comfortably.
bellion chance united forced their hosts back for a spell, putting sustained pressure on the fenerbahçe goal and winning a string of potentially dangerous free-kicks. bellion had a half-chance in a crowded box in the eleventh minute but his shot went wide.
home pressure but fenerbahçe were in confident mood and determined to avenge their loss at old trafford. they kept up the pressure on the united area but failed to capitalise from a number of set-pieces. their best chance came from a curling free-kick that alex powered over the united wall only to see howard collect.
fenerbahçe lead however, fenerbahçe took a deserved lead two minutes into the second half when tuncay executed a graceful twisting volley which beat howard and went in off the underside of the bar. a minute later marco aurélio shot wide as a confident fenerbahçe, orchestrated by alex in midfield, stretched the english team's back line.
richardson miss the youthful united side looked startled but had a great chance in the 55th minute when kieran richardson drove the ball into the side-netting from close range. bellion had declined to take a shot and instead set richardson up but to no avail.
advantage doubles fenerbahçe punished the visitors just a few minutes later when tuncay flew into the box to connect with an alex free-kick and head past the helpless howard. the winger struck again in the second minute of added time after being set up by substitute serhat akin's first touch, and lyon's victory means that united will face group winners in the first knockout round - but sir alex's team had done the hard work in the opening five matchnights.
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