Turkey round-up: Record-breaking win for Galatasaray

Galatasaray SK kept the initiative at the business end of the Turkish Super League by collecting their 25th consecutive home win, beating the record previously set by Fenerbahçe SK.

Arif winner
The leaders defeated Trabzonspor 2-1 at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium despite the away team taking the lead through Gökdeniz Karadeniz’s early goal. Brazilian Christian levelled and Elvir Baljic’s cross mid-way through the second half was converted by the consistently dangerous Arif Erdem.

Fener fight back
Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, who were eliminated from the UEFA Cup by Panathinaikos in mid-week, bounced back by posting the biggest win of the season: a 7-1 defeat of Bursaspor. Washington hit a hat-trick, Serhat Akin scored twice and there were also goals for Ceyhun Eris and Tuncay Sanli.

Gecler too good
Fifth-placed Gençlerbirligi SK brought Adanaspor AS back down to earth with a 7-2 win away from home. The Adana team have impressed since their promotion but were three down by the break after strikes from Okan Koç, Souleymane Youla and Filip Daems. Ahmed Hassan and Okan Koç both added two goals apiece in the second half to round off the drubbing.

Viola sings
Gaziantepspor comfortably overcame Diyarbakirspor 2-0 to stay second with Viola opening his side’s account and Cesar doubling the lead. Ten-man Besiktas preserved their third spot by beating Altay GK 1-0 in Izmir, the only goal coming from the boot of Ilhan Mansiz on 58 minutes in a match where Tümer Metin was dismissed in the first half.

Denizlispor amends
Denizlispor, who crashed out of the UEFA Cup to Czech Republic side Sparta Praha, ran out 2-1 winners against Istanbulspor, going ahead through Péter Kabát’s free-kick on 55 minutes and taking the lead again after Musa Kus’ equaliser through Henrich Bencik.

Lethal finish
Elsewhere, Samsunspor beat Elazigspor, 3-1 and Yilmaz Özlem’s fierce strike eight minutes from time was enough for MKE Ankaragücü to edge out Göztepe 1-0.