Bursaspor wonder kid Enes Ünal sets Turkey’s youngest goal scoring record
ISTANBUL
16-year-old Enes Ünal scored his first ever Super League against Galatasaray, earning a 1-1 draw for Bursaspor. DHA photo
Bursaspor’s wonder boy Enes Ünal set the new record as the youngest goal-scorer in the Turkish top-flight with a goal against Galatasaray on Aug. 25.Enes scored the equalizing goal against Galatasaray only two minutes after he was brought into the Spor Toto Super League game. At 16 years, three months and 15 days of age, Enes became the youngest goal scorer with his tap-in that gave Bursaspor a 1-1 draw against the defending champion.
“I was a little nervous, but I knew I would score,” the forward said about his professional debut. “I have been thinking about this game for two nights.”
With the goal, Enes broke the record of Batuhan Karadeniz, who scored for Beşiktaş at 16 years, four months and one day of age in 2007.
Enes has been drawing several European clubs’ attention in the last year, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Juventus, Villarreal and Mönchengladbach all reportedly linked with him for a transfer. Bursaspor signed a professional contract with the hot prospect earlier this summer. He is the son of former Bursaspor player Mesut Ünal.
With the draw, Bursaspor got its first point of the season, but could not jump much, with Christoph Daum’s side still sitting on the 17th spot after second match day.
Despite the draw, Galatasaray was second after Kardemir Karabükspor, with both teams having four points.
For their parts, archrivals Fenerbahçe edged Eskişehir on Aug. 24 with Dirk Kuyt’s solitary goal in the second half in Şükrü Saraçoğlu. Coach Ersun Yanal can momentarily diffuse criticisms directed at his squad and putting him already under fire after losing their first game of the season and showing a poor performance against Arsenal in Champions League.
Roberto Carlos gets first victory as coach
Elsewhere, Brazil’s legendary left-back Roberto Carlos earned his first ever victory as a coach after his Sivasspor convincingly defeated at home 2-0 Torku Konyaspor, who stunned title-contenders Fenerbahçe last week. Himself a former player of the Yellow Canaries, Roberto Carlos could savor his win on the pitch as the Turkish Football Federation approved his coaching license and gave him green light to direct his team from the bench.
Burhan Eşer in the 55th minute and Ümit Kurt in the 66th scored for the gallant “Yiğidos.”
Elazığ Sanica Boru overturned twice a one-goal deficit to tie 2-2 with an ambitious Kardemir Karabükspor. The visitors opened the score with Gökhan Ünal’s header in the 12th minute, but Serdar Özkan equalized in the 39th minute for Elazığ.
Karabük took the lead once again in the 64th minute with Erdem Özgenç but failed to prevent Tidlane Sane sealing the score in the 82nd minute.
On Aug. 26, Trabzonspor will host their neighbors Çaykur Rizespor in the Black Sea derby. With a convincing victory over Gençlerbirliği last week despite being newly-promoted, the “tea-makers” will look to engender a Tea Party rebellion at the Avni Aker fortress.
Beşiktaş will close the week at Kayseri Erciyesspor’s field. The Black Eagles are looking to recover from their Europa League defeat inflicted by Tromso, avoiding a new accident against the newly promoted team coached by the over-ambitious Fuat Çapa.
