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Türkiye's Fenerbahce claimed its first victory in the UEFA Europa League this season, stunning France's Nice 2-1 in Istanbul with Turkish national winger Kerem Akturkoglu's two goals.
The match, which kicked off at 7:45 p.m. local time (GMT+3) at Chobani Stadium, saw the Turkish side dominate apart from the away team’s goal from a penalty.
The win follows Fenerbahce’s 3-1 away defeat to Dinamo Zagreb last week, while Nice suffered its second loss after falling to Roma in the opening round.
Fenerbahce started brightly, taking the lead in the third minute when Akturkoglu converted an early chance. The winger doubled the advantage in the 25th minute, giving the hosts firm control before half an hour had passed.
The visitors pulled one back after being awarded a penalty in the 34th minute. Forward Carlos stepped up to score three minutes later, reducing the deficit to 2-1 heading into halftime.
Fenerbahce continued to dictate the game in the second half, maintaining possession and preventing Nice from creating clear opportunities. Despite slowing the tempo, the Istanbul club kept its lead intact until the final whistle.
The match marked a personal breakthrough for the 26-year-old winger, who joined Fenerbahce this season. After four appearances without a goal across domestic and European fixtures, Akturkoglu opened his account in emphatic fashion with two decisive strikes.
The victory lifted Fenerbahce off the bottom of the group standings, keeping its chances of progression alive after the early setback in Zagreb. Nice, meanwhile, remains without a point after two matches and faces mounting pressure as the group stage continues.
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