Turkey round-up: Galatasaray go four points clear

Galatasaray SK extended their  lead at the top of the Super Ligi thanks to a 3-1 home win over Göztepe today. The UEFA Champions League contenders are now four points clear of city rivals Besiktas JK.
 
Penalty success
The home team took the lead with a Berkant Göktan penalty in the 28th minute, after Göksel Akinci was adjudged to have handled the ball. Six minutes after half-time, Galatasary were awarded another penalty after Göztepe goalkeeper Bülent Ataman brought down Christian, and the Brazilian striker got up to score from the spot.

Decisive third
Göztepe pulled a goal back eleven minutes from time when Zafer Biryol took advantage of a mistake by Bülent Korkmaz to beat Faryd Mondragon. However, a 90th-minute goal ended all Göztepe’s hopes, as goalkeeper Bülent went forward for a corner, only to see Galatasaray clear and launch a swift counterattack which ended with Ayhan Akman making it 3-1.

Home record
Galatasaray have equalled Fenerbahçe SK’s record of 24 successive home wins, and hope to surpass the record in their next home match against Trabzonspor, who beat Diyarbakirspor 3-0 on Friday thanks to goals from Fatih Tekke and two from Mehmet Yilmaz.

Gençlerbirligi win again
Gençlerbirligi SK defeated Elazigspor by the same scoreline to end a run of six games without a win. Goals from Souleymane Youla, Serkan Balci and Veysel Cihan secured the win, before Elazigspor’s Mehmet Ali Çakma was sent off five minutes from time.

Heavy defeat
Altay GK slumped to a 4-0 home defeat in the hands of Adanaspor AS in Izmir, with Ali Asim Balkaya putting the visitors ahead six minutes before half-time. Necati Ates set up a second for Murat Özatak just past the hour mark, before further goals from Ates and Balkaya confirmed a miserable day for the home side.

Narrow wins
A goal from Augustine Ahinful was enough for MKE Ankaragücü to record a victory over Istanbulspor AS, while Gaziantepspor overcame an early setback to defeat Kocaelispor 2-1 at home. Zdravko Lazarov put the visitors ahead after five minutes, but Riadh Bouazizi equalised twelve minutes later before top scorer Viola got the winning goal in the 25th minute.

Impressive home form
Elsewhere Malatyaspor, who have an impressive home record, defeated Samsunspor 2-1. First-half goals from Tolga Seyhan and Fazli Ulusoy put the Malatya side in control and, although Vural Korkmaz pulled a goal back for Samsunspor midway through the second half, the away team were unable to get back on level terms.

Postponed games
The games between Denizlispor and Bursaspor and Fenerbahçe and Besiktas were postponed because Denizlispor, Besiktas and Fenerbahçe were all involved in UEFA Cup action on Thursday.