Revivo out for 4 months
Fenerbahce midfielder Haim Revivo will be out for at least four months after
damaging knee ligaments in Israel's 1-1 draw with Austria, according to national-team doctor Mark Rosnovsky. The
development is a major blow to the Istanbul club, who will also be without Turkey star Ogün Temizkanoglu for
six weeks after he damaged a muscle in his left foot in the 3-1 weekend victory at Malatya. Revivo was stretchered
off after 53 minutes of the World Cup qualifier on Saturday and a scan later showed damage to his medial collateral
ligaments. Fenerbahce coach Mustafa Denizli now faces a selection headache for Wednesday's Champions' League game
in Barcelona. His hopes of leading Fenerbahce to a second successive league title have also taken a battering.
The draw between Israel and Austria ended Revivo's hopes of playing in the World Cup as the visitors secured the
result they needed to progress into a qualification play-off against Turkey.
Malatya:1 - Fenerbahce:3
Fenerbahce travel to Barcelona on Wednesday hoping to avoid becoming the second team in history, after Kosice,
to finish a Champions League opening round group phase with zero points. Barca at the Nou Camp is likely to be
a rather different proposition from Malatya at the Inönü Stadium. Kennet Andersson's cross shot on 8
minutes brought his first goal in nearly ten months and put the Yellow Canaries in the driving seat. They were
rarely troubled by bottom-of-the-table Malatya and Abdullah Ercan's free kick three minutes after the break seemed
to have them cruising. But then, on 52 minutes, referee Sabit Haciömeroglu handed Fenerbahce's Samuel Johnson
red card for deliberate handball inside the area. Fazli Ulosoy struck home the resulting penalty. If that gave
Malatya hope, it was short lived. Three minutes later another set piece just outside the box allowed Abdullah's
left foot to put Fenerbahce 3-1 ahead. From there on the 10-man Canaries concentrated on shutting the game down
and there was no further scoring.
