What's up with Fenerbahce?

Fenerbahce Istanbul - Underdog, Overachieving

Fenerbahce Istanbul has really heated themselves up. They have gone through a lot in the UCL. Now, they are emerging as possibe champions in the league. Even with less super stars in their teams, compared to the others, they have responded to obstacles and downsides in their games with much intensity and determination. They are surely a force to reckon with and are a threat to the other clubs who are vying for the trophy. They prove that hard work and determination can defeat skill.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Fenerbahçe – Alex

Alex is a star. The Brazilian attacking midfielder failed to make a splash in his first spell in Europe, but he’s certainly made waves this time around. The Yellow Canaries’ No20 has been the star several times in Europe this season and is the man Chelsea need to watch. Having scored both goals against Besiktas at the weekend, he’s definitely in form.

-Goal.com

Team Line up:

Name and position	No	Joined in	Former team	Birth date	Citizenship
Goalkeepers
Volkan Demirel	1	2002	Kartalspor	27 October 1981
Serdar Kulbilge	22	2005	Bursaspor	7 July 1980
Volkan Babacan	88	2005	Fenerbahçe PAF	11 August 1988
Mert Günok	89	2007	Fenerbahçe PAF	1 March 1989
Defenders
Diego Lugano	2	2006	São Paulo	2 November 1980
Roberto Carlos	3	2007	Real Madrid	10 April 1973
Yasin Çakmak	5	2007	Çaykur Rizespor	6 January 1985
Wederson	6	2007	Ankaraspor	22 July 1981
Can Arat	17	2001	Fenerbahçe PAF	21 January 1984
Önder Turacı vice-	19	2004	Standard Liège	14 July 1981
Edu Dracena	36	2006	Cruzeiro	18 May 1981
Gökhan Gönül	77	2007	Gençlerbirliği OFTAŞ	4 April 1985
Midfielders
Stephen Appiah	4	2005	Juventus	24 December 1980
Kemal Aslan vice-	7	2003	Gaziantepspor	24 October 1981
Mehmet Aurélio	15	2003	Trabzonspor	15 December 1977
Ali Bilgin	18	2007	Antalyaspor	17 December 1981
Alex	20	2004	Cruzeiro	14 September 1977
Selçuk Şahin	21	2003	İstanbulspor	31 January 1981
Deniz Barış	24	2004	Gençlerbirliği	2 July 1977
Uğur Boral	25	2006	Gençlerbirliği	14 April 1982
Gürhan Gürsoy	32	2004	Adanaspor	24 September 1987
Claudio Maldonado	33	2008	Santos	3 January 1980
Strikers
Colin Kâzım-Richards	8	2007	Sheffield United	26 August 1986
Mateja Kežman	9	2006	Atlético Madrid	12 April 1979
Semih Şentürk vice-	23	1999	Fenerbahçe PAF	29 April 1983
İlhan Parlak	38	2007	Kayserispor	19 January 1987
Deivid	99	2006	Sporting Lisbon	22 October 1979

-Fenerbahce Istanbul Official Site

This is a video of the long-shot screamer of Deivid again Chelsea FC in the Quarter Finals League of UCL.






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"Anything can happen in the game. A goal can be made in a millisecond.": Liverpool v Arsenal, Chelsea v Fenerbahce

Stage of disbelief

I was very shocked at the results of the second set of matches in UCL's Quarter Final Leg. For me, the results were surprising because I didn't think that Liverpool and Chelsea will even submit goals at this stage. Well, I guess what my coach said when I was playing for my college was true: "Anything can happen in the game. A goal can be made in a millisecond."

CHELSEA FC v FENERBAHCE ISTANBUL

SUKRU SARACOGLU STADIUM, ISTANBUL - I am really disappointed at the Blues because it's a fact that all of the goals made in this game were made by Fenerbahce. Even with their line-up of famous star players, they were still beaten by a team that consisted of a few star players. They weren't in top shape during the whole game, something that I didn't expect to get from teams in this late stage of the UCL. It seems that the blog entry that I was going to make about Fenerbahce will push through. I was going to put an entry if they won this game.



It's sad to know that Chelsea did not play their best but there are still other games in which they can make comebacks. It's just the first game of the quarter finals.

The first lead was received by Chelsea from Yellow Canaries' Deivid de Souza, who made an own goal. He later gave the game an upset by scoring the last goal for the game from 30-yards which netted the turkish team the win. Minutes later, Kazim Kazim made the equalizer for his team by beating the blue defenders' offside trap and scoring agains Carlos Cudini.

Even if they lost, Chelsea still made a few notable attempts, one by Lampard and another by Drogba. Just shows that they didn't give up.

"Normally it's a good result to lose 2-1 away from home, but because we played the better football, we are disappointed," Chelsea manager Avram Grant said. - Canadian Press

Great work Fenerbahce, keep it up. Chelsea, you should do better in the next game.

ARSENAL FC v LIVERPOOL FC

EMIRATES STADIUM - The first game of Arsenal and Liverpool was one that gave disappointments to both teams. They wanted to win the first out of three but instead of a win-lose situation, they ended up with a draw. Arsenal made the first move when Gunner striker Adebayor headed a magnificent cross from fellow Gunner Robin van Persie. Liverpool wasn't going to stand for that so after a few minutes, they responded with a goal from Kuyt from captain Steven Gerrard's own cross. Overall, I think that Arsenal did very well even t

hough they failed to score again. There was also a controversial non-penalty call that could've given Liverpool the edge for their next match-up.

Well, the advance to Semi Finals is anyone's game right now. Who knows? Maybe Chelsea FC will take this as a wake up call and bring on their A game in the last two games. Maybe Fenerbahce Istanbul will continue to ride on their momentum and throw away Chelsea's chance to advance. Maybe Liverpool FC will show what they had in the past games - pin-point long-range screamers, excellent plays and passes. Maybe Arsenal FC will use this disappointment to increase their determination to succeed in this endeavor.

Maybe. Maybe not. We won't know until they play again.

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