Fenerbahce stun Liverpool in Istanbul as Como sets scoring record
Dirk Kuyt's side won 3-2 over the Reds in their first match under his leadership, while Como matched the biggest margin of victory in Champions League history.
By Adriana Abebe ·
A Dutchman who spent six years as a Liverpool player took charge of the Turkish giants that defeated his former club on Thursday night. Fenerbahce defeated Liverpool 3-2 in Istanbul, securing their first victory of the season. The win came just one week after Dirk Kuyt was appointed interim head coach following the resignation of Ismail Kartal.
Kuyt, who made over 200 appearances for the English side between 2006 and 2012, said few expected his team to beat the visitors. He credited his players for overcoming two deficits to claim the result. The loss ended Liverpool's perfect start to the campaign, as they had won their first three matches.
The match featured rapid shifts in momentum. Trey Nyoni opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 25th minute with a low volley that deflected off Kojo Peprah Oppong to beat goalkeeper Ederson. Mason Greenwood equalized for Fenerbahce four minutes later when a free kick struck the defensive wall and skidded past Alisson.
Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak restored the lead for Liverpool in the 69th minute. Gakpo crossed from the byline, and Isak headed the ball past Ederson. The advantage lasted until N'Golo Kante's cross led to a deflected header by Gakpo, allowing Archie Brown to tap in an equalizer for Fenerbahce.
The decisive goal arrived in the 79th minute. Archie Brown played a looping pass into the box after a long throw, and Vedat Muriqi headed the ball past Alisson while surrounded by defenders. The final score left Liverpool in eighth place with nine points. Fenerbahce moved up to 19th place with five points.
Como recorded a historic performance against Lens, winning 9-1. The result equaled the biggest winning margin in Champions League history, matching eight-goal victories by Liverpool and Real Madrid in previous seasons. Como became the first team since 1971 to score nine goals away from home in the European Cup. They are the second team after Bayern Munich to score nine goals in a single Champions League match.
The victory lifted Como to fourth place in the standings with nine points. The team has scored 19 goals in four matches this season. Captain Lucas Da Cunha described the performance as incredible but said the squad must remain grounded. Real Madrid also won, beating AEK Athens 3-2 with a stoppage-time goal from Federico Valverde.
