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Another ‘miracle’ in Istanbul – but this one hurt Liverpool
Liverpool lost 3-2 to Fenerbahce in Istanbul after twice taking the lead, suffering their first Champions League defeat by the Turkish side. The late collapse cost Andoni Iraola’s team a significant away win and set a club record: Liverpool had never previously been beaten in a major European match after going ahead so late.
Trey Nyoni opened the scoring, and Alexander Isak headed Liverpool back in front in the 69th minute, but Fenerbahce equalised through Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown before Vedat Muriqi scored the winner six minutes later. All three Fenerbahce goals came from set-pieces or the ensuing phases, with Iraola calling Liverpool’s defending “cheap” and “messy”; Dirk Kuyt, the home side’s interim boss and former Liverpool player, said his team had drawn on Liverpool’s own never-say-die spirit.
In short
- Liverpool lost 3-2 after leading twice in Istanbul.
- Fenerbahce scored all three goals from set-piece situations.
- The defeat came four days after Liverpool lost to Arsenal.
Explained simply
Liverpool and Fenerbahce are major clubs in the Champions League, Europe’s leading competition for club teams. Their match took place in Istanbul, where Liverpool have a notable history: they beat AC Milan there in the 2005 final after recovering from a three-goal deficit, a game often called the “Miracle of Istanbul”.
The sides have met before in European competition, but Liverpool had not previously lost a major European match to Fenerbahce. Set-pieces, such as corners and free-kicks, can create scoring chances when defenders have to deal with a crowded penalty area; goals can also follow in the scramble after the first delivery.