Muriqi strikes before the third minute
Fenerbahce won 2-0 at Samsunspor on Sunday night in round three of the Super Lig. Vedat Muriqi opened the scoring in the 3rd minute after a pass from Oğuz Aydin. Aydin then made it two in the 49th, this time set up by İrfan Can Kahveci.
Two goals, two assists, both ways between the same pair. The match was decided by that partnership. Aydin hit the target with both of his efforts and added three interceptions, a rare return for a winger.
Muriqi now has two goals in three rounds, level with Mason Greenwood in third among Turkish scorers. The Kosovan got three of his five shots on target and won all three of his aerial duels before making way for Romelu Lukaku in the 63rd minute.
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Samsunspor had the ball, never the finish
Thomas Fink had put together a sensible plan. His 4-2-3-1 kept the ball 58% of the time, Elliot Watt touched it 101 times, and the back line did almost everything right, with Josafat Mendes completing 44 of 44 passes and Toni Borevković 38 of 39.
The issue was higher up the pitch. They created no major chances all night, while Fenerbahce made three. Saikuba Jarju failed to hit the target with either of his two attempts. Watt lost all seven of his duels, Emre Kılınç all six. Keeping the ball meant little on the night.
The record between the two clubs was already grim: Samsunspor have not won any of the last seven meetings, with four draws and three defeats.
Kante and Guendouzi controlled midfield
Ismail Kartal is leaning on a midfield with a heavy French flavour. N’Golo Kante won six of his seven duels, Mattéo Guendouzi created a big chance. Behind them, Nélson Semedo came through with six wins from six in duels and two successful dribbles.
Goalkeeper Ederson, though, completed just 18 of 33 passes. Unusual waste, but it didn’t end up costing them, with no opposition forward sharp enough to punish it.
Fenerbahce move onto six points and climb to third. Samsunspor stay ninth with four. The Turkish schedule is heating up, and Kartal now has Lukaku, Greenwood and Muriqi to juggle up front.
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