Başakşehir maintains points gap with win in Turkish Super League

ISTANBUL

Turkish league leader Başakşehir maintained six point lead atop the Spor Toto Super League standings with April 7’s 2-0 victory against Konyaspor.

Başakşehir got the home win thanks to second half goals scored by Brazilian midfielder Marcio Mossoro and Bosnian star Edin Visca.

Visca is spending a superb season at Başakşehir, producing 11 goals and 12 assists in 27 league appearances, becoming the top scorer of the season for his side.

Following to the win over Konyaspor, leader Başakşehir maintained the six-point gap with second-placed Galatasaray, which defeated Malatyaspor 3-0 on April 6.

Başakşehir currently has 61 points in the league with seven weeks to go, with a game scheduled for this weekend at third-placed Beşiktaş.

Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, failed to beat Ankaragücü in April 7’s match as the Istanbul club is unable to boost its morale before next weekend’s derby against archrival Galatasaray.     

Home side Ankaragücü took the lead near the end of the first half as its New Zealand winger Tyler Boyd scored on a counter attack.

Fenerbahçe equalized in the second half when left back Hasan Ali Kaldırım netted a goal with a close range shot.

 Tensions ran high in the 87th minute when Fenerbahçe’s Mehmet Ekici and Ankaragücü midfielder Hector Canteros brawled.

Referee Mete Kalkavan sent both Ekici and Canteros off after watching the position on the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) system.

Fenerbahçe will host Galatasaray on April 14.  The visiting side has not been able to get a win in Kadıköy since December 1999 as Fenerbahçe’s unbeaten streak at home against Galatasaray is now nearly at 20 years.