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Turkish giants Fenerbahce suffered a disappointing start to their Europa League campaign Wednesday, losing 3-1 to Dinamo Zagreb at Stadion Maksimir in their opening group stage match.
The defeat marked a frustrating evening for the Istanbul club, who found themselves chasing the game for most of the encounter after conceding early goals and struggling to contain the Croatian side's attacking threats throughout the 90 minutes.
The match began with both teams probing for openings, with Fenerbahce creating the first significant opportunity through a corner kick in the fourth minute that was well defended by Dinamo's backline. The Turkish visitors appeared comfortable in the opening stages, with their experienced defensive pairing of Milan Skriniar and Caglar Soyuncu looking solid.
However, Dinamo Zagreb gradually grew into the contest and began to threaten through set pieces and crosses into the penalty area. The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when striker Dion Beljo capitalized on a chaotic sequence in the box. After his initial right-footed attempt from the center of the penalty area was blocked, Beljo quickly reacted to slot the rebound into the bottom right corner, giving the Croatian champions the lead.
Fenerbahce's response was swift and decisive. Just four minutes after falling behind, Sebastian Szymanski restored parity with a spectacular strike from outside the box. The Polish midfielder's left-footed effort found the bottom right corner following a corner kick sequence, showcasing the technical quality that has made him a key player for the Turkish side.
The second half began with renewed intensity from both teams, but it was Dinamo Zagreb who struck the decisive blow early in the period. Five minutes after the restart, Beljo doubled both his personal tally and his team's advantage with a close-range finish. The striker positioned himself perfectly to convert from very close range to the bottom right corner, with Arber Hoxha providing the crucial assist.
Fenerbahce struggled to create clear-cut opportunities despite enjoying periods of possession. Their best chance of the second half came through Szymanski again, whose left-footed shot from outside the penalty area in the 61st minute was saved in the top center of the goal by Dinamo goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic.
The Turkish side's attacking efforts were further hampered by missed opportunities from key players. Nelson Semedo came close in the 69th minute with a left-footed effort from outside the box that narrowly missed the target, while Marco Asensio had a shot blocked as Fenerbahce pressed for an equalizer.
Manager Domenico Tedesco made several tactical adjustments in an attempt to salvage the result, bringing on Fred for Soyuncu in the 59th minute, followed by Irfan Can Kahveci and Oguz Aydin for Szymanski and Dorgeles Nene respectively in the 71st minute. The final substitution saw veteran striker Cenk Tosun replace Kerem Akturkoglu in the 84th minute as Fenerbahce pushed for goals in the closing stages.
Despite these changes and increased attacking intent, Fenerbahce was unable to break down Dinamo's resolute defense. The Croatian side managed the game effectively, making their own substitutions to maintain freshness and tactical balance.
The match reached its conclusion in dramatic fashion during an extended period of stoppage time. With Fenerbahce committed to attack in search of an equalizer, Dinamo Zagreb caught them on the counter in the 95th minute. Substitute Mounsef Bakrar, who had replaced Mateo Lisica in the 75th minute, capped off the victory with a well-taken right-footed shot from the right side of the box that found the bottom left corner.
The goal came through excellent teamwork, with fellow substitute Sandro Kulenovic providing the assist after coming on for Beljo in the same substitution window. The late strike effectively ended any hopes of a Fenerbahce comeback and secured all three points for the Croatian champions.
The match saw several disciplinary incidents throughout, with yellow cards shown to multiple players from both sides. Dinamo's Moris Valincic and goalscorer Beljo were cautioned in the first half, while Fenerbahce's Jayden Oosterwolde received his booking just before halftime. In the second half, Fred and Oguz Aydin were also shown yellow cards as frustrations mounted for the visiting team.
This opening defeat leaves Fenerbahce with work to do in their Europa League group, while Dinamo Zagreb earned a valuable three points that could prove crucial in their bid to advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
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