Turkey round-up: Galatasaray in pole position

Galatasaray SK eased their way to maximum points and top spot in the 1. Lig table with a 4-1 home victory against Rizespor on Sunday.

Early lead
The UEFA Champions League hopefuls were made to work hard for their win, despite taking an early lead when Oumar Dieng was adjudged to have fouled Ümit Karan in the box and Berkant Göktan scored from the spot. The visitors stunned the home fans a minute before the break when Hasan Özer headed home Türan Bilge's cross to equalise but their celebrations were short-lived.

Arif volley
Galatasaray went back up the other end of the pitch and Arif Erdem volleyed the ball into the back of the net. Karan grabbed the third seven minutes after the restart to end the visitors' hopes of a result and Arif grabbed his second of the game 18 minutes from time.

Late strike
A late strike from Alp Kucukvardar saved Bursaspor's blushes and pegged back Trabzonspor after a four-goal thriller. Zafer Demiray had given Trabzonspor the lead at half-time with his 32nd-minute effort, and when Marco Aurelio doubled their advantage from the penalty spot after 64 minutes the points looked safe. The hosts had other ideas and Mürak Haciögü reduced the deficit three minutes later before Kucukvardar stole a share of the spoils.

Denizlispor comeback
Denizlispor came back from 2-1 down at the break to hammer four unanswered second-half goals past Gaziantepspor. Strikes from Maxim Romashenko (27) and Fatih Tekke (32) gave the visitors the upper hand but within a minute Veysel Cihan had reduced the deficit. Coskün Birdal levelled the scores after 52 minutes and Cihan grabbed his second six minutes later. Fernand Coulibaly put the game out of Gaziantepspor's reach seven minutes from time before Cihan sealed his hat-trick with a cool finish two minutes later.

Five goals
Yozgatspor came out on top after sharing five goals with Antalyaspor. Cengizhan Hincal's 33rd minute opener was all that separated the teams at half-time before Kamil Cakir levelled three minutes after the restart. Yaw Preko restored the lead in the 52nd minute but Antalyaspor hit back through Mustafa Gursel three minutes later. The killer blow would come just three minutes after, Antti Sumiala knocking the ball into an open goal at the far post.

Besiktas held
Göztepe's two-goal cushion was enough to take the points despite Celil Sagir's 89th-minute consolation for Samsunspor. Zafer Biryol (30) and Mustafa Ozkan (58) had done enough already to secure the points. Diyarbakirspor held Besiktas JK to a goalless draw along with Gençlerbirligi SK, who frustrated hosts Istanbulspor AS into a stalemate.

Yavas on target
Malatyaspor saw off visitors Kocaelispor 2-1 thanks to Mithat Yavas' winner nine minutes from time. Fazli Ulusoy had given the hosts the lead three minutes before the break but Zdravko Lazerov looked to have earned Kocaelispor a point with his 74th-minute equaliser before Yavas struck.