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Bonucci misses decisive penalty as Fenerbahce eliminated from Conference League

Bonnuci

Noise levels reached fever pitch at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium as the match kicked off, with the home fans eager to remind Olympiacos of their hostility every time they touched the ball. Still, the Greek outfit held a narrow lead after the first leg and had the game’s first opportunity when Chiquinho tried an attempt from long-range, which sailed over the bar. However, the visitors were always at risk, and it didn’t take long for Fenerbahçe to move in front on the night and draw level on aggregate. Sebastian Szymański fed the ball to İrfan Kahveci, who powered home inside the post. The 28-year-old then nearly gave his side the advantage in the tie for the first time when his mazy dribble and drilled shot was brilliantly saved by Konstantinos Tzolakis. Olympiacos, meanwhile, had their moments throughout the first half, but the hosts nullified any threat with the help of a resolute defence.

Italy international Leonardo Bonucci was introduced as a substitute at minute 120 only to take a spot kick in a penalty shootout, but he missed it and his Fenerbahce side were eliminated from the Conference League by Olympiakos.

Bonucci’s penalty kick miss cost elimination from the Conference League quarter-finals on Thursday. The Italian had been introduced at minute 120, replacing his teammate İsmail Yüksek, only to take a spot kick.

The Turkish and Greek sides had missed two penalties each before Bonucci’s final attempt, but the ex-Juventus and Milan centre-back was denied by Konstantinos Tzolakis so Olympiakos qualified for the first European semifinal for the first time in history.