Fenerbahçe won decisively 3-0 against Kasımpaşa during their clash in the Ziraat Türkiye Kupası B Grubu on January 9, 2025. The match, which took place at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Stadium, began with high anticipation from both sides eager to secure their first points of the tournament.
Under the stewardship of José Mourinho, Fenerbahçe was expected to field a strong squad, albeit with some notable absences due to injuries. Earlier preparations revealed they were tackling fitness issues for key players Jayden Oosterwolde, Rodrigo Becao, Dominik Livakovic, and İsmail Yüksek. Even amid these challenges, Mourinho's side came equipped with players who were ready to seize the opportunity, including star striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Kasımpaşa, managed by Hakan Keleş, also entered the match with their eyes set on victory. The home team hadn't lost any of their last six matches, hoping to leverage their home ground advantage against the formidable Fenerbahçe side.
Right from the kickoff, Fenerbahçe displayed their intent. Just two minutes in, Cenk Tosun set up En-Nesyri, who directed the ball beautifully with his head, putting Fenerbahçe one goal up. This early lead set the tone for the rest of the match, making Kasımpaşa's task increasingly difficult.
By the 27th minute, Fenerbahçe struck again, this time through Yusuf Akçiçek, who managed to control the ball inside the box before firing it home. With the score now 2-0, Kasımpaşa faced mounting pressure as they struggled to forge any effective responses.
The first half ended with another goal from Fenerbahçe, this time courtesy of Bartuğ Elmaz, who took advantage of Kasımpaşa's defensive error to wrap up the scoring before halftime. The home team’s defense was visibly rattled, and they failed to find any rhythm against Fenerbahçe’s aggressive style of play.
After the halftime break, Kasımpaşa attempted to regroup and pushed for opportunities to crawl back, but Fenerbahçe's defense held strong under Kadir Sağlam's officiation. The visitors continued to threaten, but no additional goals were scored during the second half, solidifying Fenerbahçe's strong start to their cup campaign.
The defeat leaves Kasımpaşa needing to re-evaluate their strategies as they head to their next game against İstanbulspor, whereas Fenerbahçe, gaining three points, gears up for matches against Erzurumspor and Gaziantep FK.
Reflecting on the match, it's clear Fenerbahçe is establishing itself as a strong contender for the Ziraat Türkiye Kupası this season, and their performance against Kasımpaşa is just a sign of what’s to come under the direction of Mourinho.
This victory not only serves as momentum but also reinforces Fenerbahçe's depth and ambition this season. They will continue to face competitive challenges, and how they navigate through the group stages will be pivotal for their overall aspirations.