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Samuel Chukwueze’s Villarreal lose to Fenerbahce in friendly
By Olu Dare
Nigeria international Samuel Chukwueze was in action as Villarreal bowed 2-1 to Fenerbahce in Saturday’s friendly.
In the Submarine’s tour of Turkey, Etienen Capoue put the La Liga side ahead, however, they ended up on the losing side.
Quique Setien mixed established players with youngsters from the academy in the starting eleven. Two had already made their first-team debuts, Adrian de la Fuente and Diego Collado, while Colombian Quintero played his first minutes.
In the 23rd minute, Gerard Moreno passed to Francis Coquelin, who switched to the left for Collado and the youngster crossed low for Capoue to send the ball into the back of the net.
Four minutes later, Quintero could have made it 2-0, but the academy prospect went round the Fenerbahce goalkeeper and his effort at full stretch was off target. It could have been a dream debut.
The Turkish side equalised on the half-hour mark after a controversial penalty given for a foul by Jorge Cuenca on Serdan Dursun. The striker himself converted the ensuing kick.
In the second half, Setien fielded a revamped team, with seven new faces from the first half, including the return of Alfonso Pedraza after overcoming his muscle injury. Only Pepe Reina, Gerard, Cuenca and Collado remained on the pitch.
The final goal of the match to make it 2-1 was scored by Joshua King in the 77th minute, firing past the Yellows’ goalkeeper.
Villarreal’s next match on Turkish soil will be against Galatasaray on Tuesday.
