Volkan Demirel turned from villain to hero to send Fenerbahçe SK into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history, saving three spot-kicks after hosts Sevilla FC had won 3-2 to take their first knockout round tie the distance.
Redemption
Two errors from the visitor's goalkeeper had given the hosts the perfect start just seven minutes in, allowing Daniel Alves and Seydou Keita to score, but two Deivid goals either side of a Frédéric Kanouté effort forced the game into extra-time following Fenerbahçe's 3-2 first-leg victory in Istanbul. Andrés Palop denied Edu after no further goals were added, however Volkan Demirel grabbed all the headlines with saves from Julien Escudé, Enzo Maresca and Alves.
Alves free-kick
The local fans had put on a captivating spectacle before kick-off, full of colour and chanting, and their favourites soon gave them the goal they craved. Frédéric Kanouté won a foul 20 metres out and, with just five minutes on the clock, Daniel Alves curled in the resultant free kick via Volkan Demirel's misjudged attempt to save.
Second goal
That put Sevilla ahead in the tie and they quickly took advantage of Volkan Demirel's shattered confidence. The Fenerbahçe goalkeeper was returning to the side after being suspended at the weekend, and he still looked rusty when Seydou Keita thrashed a shot through his gloves from distance. Frustrated, Zico's men started picking up yellow cards, including one for Gökhan Gönül, who misses the next game.
Fenerbahçe revival
Volkan Demirel made some amends in the 22nd minute, denying Keita, and by that point Fenerbahçe had given themselves a lifeline from a Mehmet Aurélio corner, which found Deivid unmarked just inside the area. The Brazilian fired hard into the bottom left corner to claim his third goal in this year's competition, before his compatriot Alex and left-back Gökçek Vederson came close to putting Fenerbahçe back on top overall.
Kanouté volley
If that signalled a resurgence from the Turkish champions, Kanouté had other ideas and restored Sevilla's two-goal cushion four minutes before the break, when he chested down Alves's pass and volleyed in courtesy of a deflection off Gökhan Gönül. Zico's men refused to wilt, however, and it took a goalline clearance from Christian Poulsen to keep out Edu in added time
Intelligent football
If Sevilla's early goals had made for a thrilling match in the first half, they appeared more intent on defending their lead after the restart, no doubt with coach Manuel Jiménez's call for intelligent football ringing in their ears after a dressing-room reminder. That gave Fenerbahçe the breathing space to build threats, as Alex reminded everyone when he sent the ball just over from the left.
Attacking substitution
Sevilla were starting to betray nerves by this point, while Zico attempted to give the visitors more edge by sending on Semih Şentürk for Selçuk Şahin. The substitute had come on to score the winner in Istanbul, but after Keita and Alves both went close at the other end, it was Deivid who once again made the difference. With just eleven minutes remaining after being picked out at the far post, burying past the helpless Andrés Palop once his intitial attempt had come back off the woodwork.
Late chances
Both sides had late chances to win it, but the match headed into extra-time where, despite producing ten goals in the preceding 180 minutes, neither team could deliver the decisive punch. That meant penalties for the chance to make history and – for Volkan Demirel – the chance to return home a redeemed hero.
Desicribe for the penalties shoot out:
The penalty shoot-out is set to begin.
Kanouté (Sevilla) scores from the penalty spot.
Frédéric Kanouté opens the shootout by calmly rolling the ball in.
Gökçek Vederson (Fenerbahçe) scores from the penalty spot.
Left-footed Gökçek Vederson confidently sends the ball to Andrés Palop's right to level matters at 1-1.
Escudé (Sevilla) missed the penalty saved by the goalkeeper.
Fenerbahçe have the edge as Volkan Demirel dives to his left and saves Julien Escudé's spot-kick.
Edu (Fenerbahçe) missed the penalty saved by the goalkeeper.
Fenerbahçe cannot take advantage as Palop pulls off a wonderful save low to his right to keep out Edu's kick.
Dragutinović (Sevilla) scores from the penalty spot.
Ivica Dragutinović blasts the ball high into the roof of the net and Sevilla lead 2-1.
Aurélio (Fenerbahçe) scores from the penalty spot.
Right-footed, Brazilian Mehmet Aurélio rolls the ball down the middle and it is 2-2.
Maresca (Sevilla) missed the penalty saved by the goalkeeper.
Sevilla are on the back-foot once more as Maresca's powerful effort hits Volkan Demirel's legs and goes over the top.
Kežman (Fenerbahçe) scores from the penalty spot.
Fenerbahçe are on the verge now after Mateja Kežman hits the ball high into the net, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Daniel Alves (Sevilla) missed the penalty saved by the goalkeeper.
Fenerbahçe have done it after Alves' right-footed shot is saved by Volkan Demirel, diving to his left. The goalkeeper has turned from villian to hero, saving three penalties in the shootout to give the Turkish visitors a 3-2 victory and a quarter-final place for the first time.
The penalties are over.
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