Fenerbahce dropped 2 priceless points at Ankaraspor yesterday after a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time.  However, the game may not have come to that had the away side converted a penalty with 2 minutes of normal time remaining. 

Mateja Kezman earned the penalty via Risp’s right arm and pleaded with regular spot kick taker Alex to allow him to take it.  The captain stepped away and the Serbian got his wish only to blast his effort over the bar. 

Kezman had only been on the pitch for 6 minutes and football ‘experts’ would tell you that a player who has only been on for a short space of time should not take a penalty.  Others would go even further a draw attention to a rule of thumb which states someone who wins a penalty is also most likely to miss it.   

Either way with the regular taker still on the field of play with the game poised finely poised at 2-1 should Kezman have been given permission to take the kick at all?  By stepping away did Alex let emotion get the better of him hence showing a weakness in his authority as captain by not taking charge of the situation? 

Perhaps Zico should have overruled them both and demand his first choice taker lines up the kick?  After all the Fenerbahce coach readily accepted the blame in his post match interview for not doing this, but could it just be him taking the heat off his players? 

Kezman missed the penalty kick, Alex stepped aside for him to take it and Zico allowed it all to happen.  Whichever way it is viewed and whomever people decide to blame nothing will change. 

Fenerbahce lost 2 precious championship points but hopefully learned a valuable lesson.  Football is a harsh game and one that will punish you if you are not ruthless enough to kill off your opposition when you get the chance.