Shoot-out win sends Fener through

Volkan goes from zero to hero

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 4th March 2008

Football Champions League Fenerbahce Sevilla Mateja Kezman

Kezman: Crucial penalty

Related links

Teams

Also see

Fenerbahce progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history after prevailing in a pulsating contest with Sevilla.

Amazingly it was three shoot-out saves from goalkeeper Volkan Demirel that sent Fener through 3-2 on penalties after his two blunders gifted Sevilla a 2-0 lead inside nine minutes.

That allowed the hosts to wipe out their 3-2 deficit from the first leg but Deivid then twice drew Fenerbahce level on aggregate to take the game into extra-time.

Volkan's penalty heroics then secured victory in the shoot-out, making Fener only the second Turkish club to reach the last eight of the Champions League since Galatasaray in 2001.

Nightmare start

Fener had a nightmare start as Volkan inexplicably conceded two long-range efforts, first punching a fierce Daniel Alves free-kick into his own net before failing to even get a hand to Seydou Keita's 25-yard strike.

Deivid gave Fener a lifeline as he fired home from Alex's 20th-minute corner to make it 4-4 on aggregate, with Sevilla leading on away goals.

Both sides continued to pour forward, just as they done in the first leg in Istanbul, and a deflected strike from Fredi Kanoute in the 41st minute put Sevilla 3-1 up on the night and 5-4 ahead on aggregate.

Fener almost pulled one back on the stroke of half-time as Edu's effort was cleared off the line by Sevilla's Christian Poulsen, but they remained on top after the break with Alex twice going close and Ugur Boral in fine form on the left.

Sevilla attempted to see the game out but a string of Alex free-kicks caused havoc in the home box and Fener eventually got the goal they deserved as Deivid was left completely unmarked to convert from Alex's 79th-minute free-kick and make it 5-5 on aggregate.

Deserved winners

While Sevilla were the better team in extra-time, they failed to make any clear-cut opportunities and Fener were ultimately deserved winners over the two legs.

Volkan first saved from Julien Escude in the shoot-out, and although Fener failed to take advantage with Edu denied by Andres Palop, Volkan saved again from Enzo Maresca.

Mateja Kezman put Fener in front in the shoot-out for thr first time at 3-2 and Volkan produced another save to deny Daniel Alves and spark wild celebrations amongst the Fener faithful.