It was billed by some as the biggest game in Fenerbahçe SK's history, so it is hardly surprising that their 2-1 UEFA Champions League quarter-final first-leg defeat of Chelsea FC in Istanbul had the home players purring as they reflected on a remarkable turnaround.
Victory
At half-time the Turkish champions were lucky to only trail by a Deivid own goal. But after the break they were a team transformed, and substitute Kazım Kazım's cool 65th-minute finish was followed by a winner nine minutes from time, a spectacular long-range effort from a redeemed Deivid. Captain Alex, quiet in the first half but his usual inspirational best in the second period, admitted that something had needed to change at the interval.
Transformation
"The first half performance was our worst in the UEFA Champions League," Alex said. "We had some hard discussions to make in the dressing room at half-time. If we want to get through we will have to fight a lot harder in London." Goalkeeper Volkan Demirel, so important in keeping Chelsea within sight prior to the interval, added: "We played excellently in the second half. The scoreline is good enough for us I think - we have learned how to win. If we can repeat that second half performance we can get through."
Final ambition
But a man who will be on familiar territory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, former Chelsea striker Mateja Kežman, does not believe that even a potential last-four tie with Liverpool FC or Arsenal FC should be their limit, pointing out what outsiders FC Porto and AS Monaco FC did four years ago. "Porto and Monaco got to the final, so why can't we?" he said. "If Lugano is able to shackle [Didier] Drogba like he did tonight we can get through."
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