Souza at the double as Fenerbahçe take control
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
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Fenerbahçe 2-0 Lokomotiv Moskva
Defensive midfielder Souza was the unlikely goalscoring hero as the Turkish side claimed a lead to take to Russia next week.
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- Souza scores in each half as the home side ease to victory
- The Brazilian struck only twice in his previous 29 games for Fenerbahçe
- Lokomotiv struggle to make an impact in their first outing of 2016
- The second leg is next Thursday, kick-off 17.00CET
- The remaining 15 first legs take place this Thursday
Souza was the unlikely goalscoring hero with one in each half as Fenerbahçe claimed a commanding victory over rusty Lokomotiv Moskva in the UEFA Europa League round of 32.
The industrious Brazilian midfielder's striking abilities are not among his strongest assets, but he was in the right place at the right time 18 minutes from the first and last whistles as the hosts dominated in Istanbul.
Fenerbahçe started the first leg with real tempo and their wing play looked astute from kick-off. Visiting keeper Guilherme denied Robin van Persie early on after great work from Volkan Şen yet the pressure soon told. Gökhan Gönül delivered the cross and Souza headed it into the bottom corner.
Fenerbahçe began the second period with renewed urgency as they sought to drive home the advantage. Van Persie went close and as his side laid siege to the visitors' box, a second goal seemed only a matter of time.
Lokomotiv, in their first outing since 10 December, held out until 72 minutes. Caner Erkin's cross was just too high for Van Persie but fell kindly for Souza, who guided it in first time. Fenerbahçe are firmly in the driving seat.
Souza the unlikely hero
For a team boasting several star men, Souza would not be a likely candidate for goalscoring hero. Yet the 27-year-old's incursions into the opposition area were lethal and for both his goals he showed perfect vision to predict the play. A night to remember.
Fenerbahçe keeps the run going
A 3-1 opening-day home defeat by Molde was not the best of starts for Fenerbahçe, yet the Turkish outfit are growing in confidence and now six matches unbeaten in the competition. Clean sheets in four of their last five games in that sequence helps.
Lokomotiv miss their edge
Lokomotiv are usually tough opponents, as Fenerbahçe's city rivals Beşiktaş would attest, but after two months without a match and with Baye Oumar Niasse having moved on during the winter, they had no answer.