Elvir Balic’s 65th minute strike against IFK Goteborg, was enough to see Fenerbache scrape through the UEFA Cup qualifying rounds on away goals to set up a first-round tie with Parma. Alberto Malesani couldn’t have wished for a tougher tie, than an early season trip to Istanbul. The Turkish side had just hired young German coach Joachim Low and despite losing Jay Jay Okocha to PSG for £11 million they had made an impressive start to the season. New summer signings Elvir Baljic and Viorel Moldovan were flourishing while Murat Yakin was proving an inspirational bit of business. Low was quickly making an impression in Turkey. Fenerbache were undefeated in their opening five games, scoring 16 and conceding just three in the process. As for Parma and Malesani they headed to Turkey having struggled with an unconvincing 0-0 draw at home to Vicenza in the opening day of the Serie A season, meanwhile Fenerbache were five games into their season and fully in the swing of things, battering Karabukspor 4-1. Malesani made five changes to the side that drew with Vicenza. Luigi Sartor, Diego Fuser, Alain Boghossian, Antonio Benarrivo and Juan Sebastian Veron all sat out, while Nestor Sensini, Mario Stanic, Paolo Vanoli, Stefano Fiore and Raffaele Longo all came in to the starting 11 in Turkey. Parma were greeted in the usual Turkish football fashion. An absolute cauldron of noise and colour welcomed them, with huge clouds covering the pitch from the intimidating red smoke bombs and flairs, creating the illusion both main stands were the fires off hell. Parma looked immediately unsettled in their new intense surroundings, the deafening boo’s and whistled drowned out every Parma touch of the ball as the hosts soon took control of the game. Despite Parma’s nervous start, Dino Baggio tried his best to silent the hostile home crowd as his long-range effort was comfortably pushed away by Rustu in the Fenerbache goal. The Sukru Saracoglu stadium would soon erupt though as Elvir Baljic’s deep freekick caught Parma defence sleeping, Viorel Moldovan found himself free of Nestor Sensini to head past a helpless Buffon from close range. giving Low's side a deserved lead. Baljic and Moldovan were causing Parma all sorts of problems, whether it be from Baljic’s dangerous deliveries or Moldovans trickery and pace, Parma were like a rabbit caught in the headlights at times. Despite the home sides dominance, Alberto Malesani thought his side had drawn level against the run of play. With half time fast approached, a smart one-two between Asprilla and Vanoli, set the Italian on his bike down Parma’s left-hand side, his cross was headed down to Asprilla who somehow managed to blast wide from close range. With the second half under way Parma were beginning to look a bit more settled, and were coming in to the game more and more. Malesani made a change. Diego Fuser was on to replace Mario Stanic as Parma chased a vital away goal. Malesani’s plan and Parma’s encouraging play was soon brought to an abrupt halt. Less than 10 minutes after Fuser came on, Dino Baggio picked up his second yellow card of the game, his late two footed lunge on the hour mark forced Paul Durkin to reach for the red card, reducing Parma to 10 men. 1-0 seemed like good result to take back to Italy now for Malesani. Parma continued to attack despite Fenerbache having the man advantage, however the Turkish outfit remained very dangerous, particularly on the counterattack. As the game was coming to an end Low’s side sprung on the break with that man Baljic at the heart of it again, Baljic found himself in a footrace with Fabio Cannavaro, Baljic’s blistering pace had struck the fear of god into Cannavaro and the Parma defence all night, with Cannavaro beaten and Baljic bearing down on goal, Cannavaro commited a foul that had Durkin reaching for his red card yet again, meaning Parma finished the game with 9 men. Malesani’s side got out of Turkey losing just 1-0 to an impressive Fenerbache, however had it all to do in the second leg now without suspended Dino Baggio and Fabio Cannavaro. Parma XI Buffon, Sensini, Thuram, Cannavaro, Stanic, Baggio, Longo, Vanoli, Fiore, Balbo, Asprilla. Coach – Alberto Malesani Fenerbache XI Rustu, Saffet, Okechukwu, Dogan, Tayfun, Yakin, Moshoeu, Metin, Bulut, Moldovan, Baljic. Coach – Joachin Low
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