El Tabei stops Champions!

El Tabei stops Champions!

Date: 7-8-2004
Wrote: EP's webmaster Yasser Zohny

Egyptian centre back Beshir El Tabei and his teammates at Rizespor managed to hold the title holders Fenerbahce to a 2-2 draw in the season opener. Rize were 0-2 down till the 52nd minute when Okan and Serkan managed to level the score for the home side.

Egyptian centre back Beshir El Tabei played the game from the start. He showed an average performance in his first and toughest test of the season. He faced the world class strikers of Fenerbahce Peirre Van Hoojdonk and Tuncay who excelled in the first half and put the defense and goalkeeper of Fenerbahce under constant bombardment.

The first half witnessed two goals for Fenerbahce. They worked hard to score and created many chances. Beshir and the other defenders of Rizespor were desperate at these moments.

The first goal came through a penalty kick in the 14th minute due to a handball in the area by Beshir! Murat Hacioglu got the ball in the left wing and crossed the ball into the area where it came off the arm of El Tabei and the referee pointed to the spot directly. The topscorer Van Hoojdonk converted the penalty kick easily to give Fenerbahce the lead.

The guests continued their pressure on Rizespor and found another goal in the last minute of the first half. It was again scored by the Dutch veteran Van Hoojdonk who placed the ball superbly into the top corner from just outside the area.

In the 2nd half, Rizespor improved their performance and Fenerbahce were forced to defend. The home side managed to pull a goal back in the 52 minute from a well placed header by Okan who received an header assist from Beshir.

After the goal, Rizespor controlled the game completely and Fenerbahce didn't cause any danger on Beshir and his teammates. In the 64th minute, Rize managed to equalize from another penalty kick. Serkan converted it and Rize equalized against the title holders.

In the remaining minutes of the game, Rize almost won the game but they didn't concentrate enough in front of goal.

Player ratings:

Caykur Rizespor: Zdravkov x, Kür?at xx, El Tabei x, Alper x, Gürol xx, Cem Baki xx, Unal x, Ersin x (Dk. 46 Murat S?zkesen x), Serkan xxx, Okan xxx, Fahri x

Fenerbahçe: Volkan x, Luciano xx, Servet xx, Fabiano xx, Umit ?zat xx, Mehmet Yozgatl? xx, Aurelio xx, Murat Hac?o?lu xx (Dk. 67 Nobre x), Tuncay xxx, Serkan Balc? xx (Dk. 58 ?nder x), Hooijdonk xxx

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