Istanbul: Turkish side Fenerbahce were held to a 1-1 draw by Roma at the Choubani Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday evening, in their opening match of the Champions League group stage. Each team earned a point before the second round of the continental competition, where Fenerbahce will travel to face Aston Villa, while Roma will host Real Madrid next Wednesday.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Roma dominated the first half, taking the lead in the 39th minute through Bryan Cristante, who fired a low shot from outside the penalty area after a cross and excellent individual effort from Donyell Malen. Fenerbahce improved significantly in the second half and needed only three minutes to equalize. Mason Greenwood played a perfectly weighted through ball between the defenders to his compatriot Archie Brown, who found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and expertly chipped the ball over him into the net.
Spanish referee Jesºs Gil Manzano initially awarded Roma a penalty in the 70th minute after Argentinian Paulo Dybala was fouled by Kerem Aktrkoglu, but he reversed his decision after consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), awarding only a free kick just outside the penalty area. The Turkish side continued to press for a second goal and came close in the 73rd minute when Greenwood sent in a cross from the right towards the near post. The ball eluded Belgian Romelu Lukaku and reached Oguz Aydin, whose shot was saved by goalkeeper Mile Svilar.
Fenerbah§e were then denied a winning goal in the 86th minute when the crossbar deflected a header from Dutchman Nathan Ak©, following a free kick from the left by Levent Mergan. In another match of the same round, PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 at their Philips Stadion stadium against Shakhtar Donetsk, coached by Turkish manager Arda Turan.
Shakhtar took the lead in the 45th minute through Venezuelan striker Gleker Mendoza, before American Sergi±o Dest equalized for the home side just three minutes into the second half. The remaining minutes saw both teams attempt to snatch a winning goal, but neither could capitalize on their chances, and the referee blew the final whistle, ending the match in a draw.