Akhisar gets crucial win with Gekas goal

AKHİSAR

Theofanis Gekas celebrates the victory with teammate Güray Vural (22). AA photo

Minnows Akhisar Belediye Gençlik took a giant step toward surviving in their first top-flight season, beating Mersin İdman Yurdu with a late goal in a Spor Toto Super League game on May 13.

Greek marksman Theofanis Gekas scored with just minutes left in the crucial game to give Akhisar a 1-0 win over already-relegated Mersin İdman Yurdu.

With the win, Akhisar jumped out of the relegation zone with just one match to play at the expense of Istanbul BB, who suffered a 4-3 defeat at Trabzonspor on the same night.

Another relegation battler, Kardemir Karabük, lost 2-1 to Sivasspor, leaving it also ensconced deeply in the relegation mire.

One of Akhisar (39 points), Karabük (37) or Istanbul BB (36) will join already-relegated Orduspor and Mersin in the second division next season depending on this weekend’s results.

Akhisar visits Orduspor, Istanbul BB hosts Kasımpaşa and Karabük takes on Fenerbahçe at 7 p.m. on May 18.