Istanbul: Fenerbahce suffered a 3-0 home defeat against English side Nottingham Forest on Thursday evening in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League round of 16 playoff, APA reports citing Trkiye Today. The visitors struck twice in the first half and added a third after the break to take firm control of the tie ahead of the return leg.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Fenerbahce initially threatened in the 19th minute when Marco Asensio delivered a corner from the right that Mert Muldur met with a header, but the effort went just over the bar. Nottingham Forest took the lead two minutes later. Murillo won possession in midfield, combined with Anderson and drove toward the edge of the penalty area. Shaking off Jayden Oosterwolde, he fired a long-range shot into the corner past goalkeeper Ederson Moraes’ left to make it 1-0.
Forest continued to apply pressure in the 28th minute when Odoi found Hutchinson on the left side of the penalty area. Hutchinson crossed to Morgan Gibbs-White, whose header was wel
l saved by Ederson. In the 38th minute, Anderson’s free kick from outside the box deflected off Williams and fell to Igor Jesus, whose first-time effort went wide.
The English side doubled its lead in the 43rd minute. Anderson sent in a corner from the left that Gibbs-White flicked on, allowing Igor Jesus to finish from close range at the far post for a 2-0 advantage. The first half ended with Nottingham Forest leading 2-0. Nottingham Forest made it 3-0 in the 50th minute, with Morgan Gibbs-White finding the net to extend the visitors’ lead.