Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Erzurumspor FK came from 1-0 down at half-time to beat Al Arabi SC 3-1 in a pre-season friendly, with Mustafa Fettahoğlu scoring twice in two minutes.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Al Arabi took the lead before half-time against the run of second-half play, heading into the interval 1-0 up at the Yedinoğlu Sahası. Erzurumspor had begun their second-stage pre-season camp at the high-altitude facility in Palandöken and fielded new signing Nihad Mujakic from the start.
Head coach Serkan Özbalta rang the changes at half-time, introducing Fettahoğlu and several other substitutes. The changes paid immediate dividends in the second period.
Fettahoğlu struck in the 68th minute to level the scores, then netted again just two minutes later — his 70th-minute strike putting Erzurumspor ahead for the first time. Karakaş rounded off the scoring in the 81st minute, converting from close range to make it 3-1.
The Turning Point
Özbalta's half-time substitutions — particularly the introduction of Mustafa Fettahoğlu — transformed the match. Erzurumspor had struggled to break down Al Arabi's defence in the first half, but Fettahoğlu's quickfire double within 120 seconds shattered the Kuwaiti side's resistance and flipped the scoreline from 0-1 to 2-1 before they could regroup.
Key Performers
Mustafa Fettahoğlu (Erzurumspor FK) — Player of the Match. The substitute scored twice in two minutes (68', 70') to single-handedly turn the game around. His first was a composed finish inside the box; his second came from a well-timed run behind the defence.
Enes Karakaş (Erzurumspor FK) — Added the third goal in the 81st minute to put the result beyond doubt.
Nihad Mujakic (Erzurumspor FK) — The new signing made his first start for the club in central defence, playing the first half before being substituted at the break.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Erzurumspor's three goals all came in a 13-minute second-half spell (68'–81'), illustrating the impact of Özbalta's tactical changes at the break. The first-half deficit (0-1) suggested Al Arabi had the better of the opening period, but the home side's response after the interval was emphatic — three goals with no reply. The condensed nature of the scoring spree — Fettahoğlu's brace in the 68th and 70th minutes — left Al Arabi with little time to adjust.
What It Means
This was part of Erzurumspor's second-stage pre-season camp at the Palandöken High Altitude Camp Centre, which concluded the following day (24 July). The TFF 1. Lig side are building towards the 2026-27 season, with the Turkish second-tier campaign expected to begin in mid-August. Al Arabi, preparing for the new Kuwait Premier League season, continue their pre-season programme.
Verdict
A tale of two halves. Al Arabi edged the first period, but Erzurumspor's second-half response — sparked by Fettahoğlu's quickfire double from the bench — was decisive. The high-altitude setting in Palandöken may have played a role as the game wore on, with Erzurumspor's superior fitness telling in the final 25 minutes.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Aug 2026