Turkish League Wrap 31: Besiktas & Basaksehir neck and neck, Man United scout whips up a storm

By
Emre Sarigul
-
Cengiz Under

Turkish League Wrap 31: Besiktas & Basaksehir neck and neck, Man United scout whips up a storm

If you had even suggested Basaksehir would be in the title race heading into the last two games of the season we would have to have questioned your sanity.

The Istanbul minnows – is it even fair to call them minnows anymore? – ended the week just two points behind league leaders Besiktas.

Basaksehir simply refuse to go away. Abdullah Avci’s mottly mob did temporarily move into first place after beating Genclerbirligi 2-1 at hime.

See More: For more Turkish League news and everything else to do with the crazy world of Turkish football

The visitors did actually take the lead when Rantie opened the scoring on 27 minutes and headed into the half-time break ahead.

Basaksehir thought back in the second half showing the kind of resilience that has made them so effective this season. Mossoro equalised and to Besiktas fans dismay it was their former striker Mustafa Pektemek who scored the winner.

Fenerbahce’s slim chances of booking a Champions League spot evaporated into the hot, humid Istanbul air on Saturday after Antalyaspor beat them at the Sukru Saracoglu stadium.

The Yellow Canaries are instead face with the possibility of dropping further down the league table with fourth-placed rival Galatasaray closing the gap with their bitter rivals after beating Gaziantepspor 2-1.

Trabzonspor blew their chances of keeping pressure on Galatasaray and Fenerbahce after being held to a 1-1 draw against 10 man Adanaspor.

With Basaksehir winning the pressure was on Besiktas. To make matters worse they had to take on rivals Bursaspor at the Crocodile Arena. As fearsome as their stadium name sounds it is worth noting that the home side had shipped in 16 goals in three games heading into the clash.

Besiktas had to wait until the second-half for Cenk Tosun to put them ahead just two minutes after being brought on. Vincent Aboubakar made sure of the three points after doubling the Black Eagles lead in additional time. Bursaspor have now lost 12 of their last 16 games.

Talking Points

Manchester United caused quite a stir this week after sending scout Krsto Kilibarda to monitor the Basaksehir clash as well as Galatasaray’s game.

United kept tabs on 19-year-old Basaksehir wonder-kid Cengiz Under who has been on fire this season scoring nine times and providing seven assists.

The Red Devils also scouted 22-year-old Galatasaray winger Bruma. Kilibarda was accused of unsettling the Portuguese ace who took it upon himself to put on an uncharacteristically selfish display, using the occasion to showcase his party tricks.

Manchester United scout at the Basaksehir vs Genclerbirligi clash
Manchester United scout at the Basaksehir vs Genclerbirligi clash

Tosun scored his 22nd goal – 18th in the league – and Aboubakar has now been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven games – five goals, two assists.

Remember Vagner Love? well he’s traded the Copacabana for the sandy beaches of Alanya and brought his goals with him. The Brazilian has netted a pretty impressive 21 goals including a hat-trick over the weekend in Alanyaspor’s demolition job against Karabukspor. Nine of his last 10 shots have resulted in goals. As the famous saying goes, form is temporary class is permanent.

Results

Kayserispor 2 : 1 Konyaspor
Kasimpasa 4 : 2 Rizespor
Istanbul Basaksehir 2 : 1 Genclerbirligi
Fenerbahce 0 : 1 Antalyaspor
Adanaspor 1 : 1 Trabzonspor
Osmanlispor FK 0 : 4 Akhisar Belediyespor
Gaziantepspor 1 : 2 Galatasaray
Alanyaspor 4 : 2 Karabukspor

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