Only eight red cards had been brandished in the Turkish Super League in the first three weeks so it was only a matter of time before the handbags really came out. A total of six red cards were shown over a weekend in which we had everything from Galatasaray captain Selçuk Inan delivering back-kicks to Samuel Eto’o bringing back his Barcelona glory days.
Akhisar 0-0 Gaziantepspor
Not the most exciting game to get the week underway with although Douglao momentarily livened things up when he got sent off. Muhammet Demir could have taken back all three points for the visitors had he not missed from the penalty spot but it was a disappointing performance by both sides.
Bursaspor 3-2 Gençlerbirliği
Bursaspor showed that the old crocodile still has some bite left with their first win of the season. Summer signing Balázs Dzsudzsák had a glorious game giving the Green Crocodiles a two goal lead by the 55th minute but Djalma gave Gençlerbirliği a glimmer of hope when he pulled one back just two minutes later. Tomas Necid wrapped up the three points courtesy of a Dzsudzsák assist on 77 minutes while El Kabir scored a late consolation goal for the Ankara based side late on. Dzsudzsák tormented his opposition throughout the game and made a total of seven key passes which was more than the entire Gençlerbirliği side put together.
https://vine.co/v/eFJxxOjbJUt
Antalyaspor 2-0 Eskişehirspor
Samuel Eto’o single handedly destroyed Eskişehirspor scoring a his fourth and fifth goal of the season in the process. If the former Chelsea and Barcelona man keeps this up he will end up a cult figure in Antalya by the end of the season. Eto’o was lethal in-front of goal but the way he led the pre-match team speech and rallied his teammates throughout the game really got the crowd going – inspirational stuff.
Galatasaray 1-1 Mersin
The reigning champions are having a bit of a torrid season so far. Mersin were last in the table losing all of their first three games but took the lead against Galatasaray when Welliton scored on 49 minutes. Former Arsenal man Lukas Podolski equalised a minute later with his second goal of the season but it all ended in tears as Selçuk İnan was sent off for a back kick on Tita although the Brazilian’s bear hugging routine was a bit ridiculous. The Lions dropped into eight place on five points following the draw – five points behind leaders Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor.
https://vine.co/v/eFvOvDzKI66
Beşiktaş 2-0 Başakşehir
Losing 2-0 to Beşiktaş away from home is a pretty respectable result on paper but this game could easily have ended in a cricket score in the Black Eagles favour. The Istanbul giants made mincemeat of Başakşehir’s defence. The away side could not contain Germany international Mario Gomez who scored twice and could have easily had another two. The experienced striker scored the Eagles 2999th goal and had numerous chances to go down in history as the player to score the 3000th towards the end of the game. Gökhan Töre also had an outstanding game providing the assist for the second goal with a breakneck counter attack.
https://vine.co/v/eFpMmtgVHBp
https://vine.co/v/eFpPnVrXPJr
Rizespor 1-1 Sivasspor
Rizespor midfielder Sylvestre had a game to forget picking up a needless red card and it looked like the home side were heading towards a defeat until Kweuke scored in the last 10 minutes to cancel out Erdal’s goal. The Congolese international now has four goals in all competitions this season.
Osmanlıspor 1-2 Konyaspor
Konyaspor decided to disregard history as the Selçuk empire crested club beat the self-proclaimed Ottomans of football at a city that had little to do with the former superpower. Ndiaye gave the home side the lead but Sissoko equalised and Alban Meha took home all three points for the away side.
Kasımpaşa 0-1 Fenerbahçe
Luis Nani provided his second assist to setup Josef de Souza from a 53rd minute corner in what ended up being the deciding goal in the mini Istanbul derby.
Kayserispor 0-1 Trabzonspor
Chelsea on-loan winger Marko Marin provided his first assist since joining Trabzonspor setting up Paraguayan international Oscar Cardozo with a delightful pass from just outside the six-yard box. The victory took Trabzonspor into joint first position with rivals Fenerbahçe on 10 points in the league.
https://vine.co/v/eFETdvT0DIq
