Beşiktaş misses chance to boost league lead

ISTANBUL

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Beşiktaş was held to a goalless draw at Antalyaspor on March 19 in a Spor Toto Super League game, on a weekend when its closest rival in the title race also failed to win.

The match in Antalya saw two teams missing out on several chances in the first half, with neither team able to capitalize on their chances and unable to break the deadlock.    
  
The second half saw no change, and Beşiktaş found itself playing with 10 men for the second time in two matches when striker Vincent Aboubakar was sent off in the 64th minute.      

The red card was Aboubakar’s second in four days, as the Cameroonian was sent off against Olympiakos on the night of March 16 in a UEFA Europa League clash.      

In a week when second-place Başakşehir, third-place Galatasaray and fourth-place Fenerbahçe all dropped points, Beşiktaş also followed the trend and dropped two crucial points in the title race.

Speaking after the game, Beşiktaş coach Şenol Güneş said his side played against a good opponent.

“We got an unwanted result, we lost two points. We came here for a victory but if we think about the game, one point is not a negative thing,” said the experienced coach.

Günelş said the Olympiacos game earlier this week took its toll on the players’ performances.

“We needed to play with tempo, but we did not have the strength to do so. I made an early substitution at the beginning of the second half, and that was a mistake. When Aboubakar was sent off after two substitutions, we totally lost control of the game. It was a slow game with very few scoring chances,” he added.

In March 19’s early game, Başakşehir drew 3-3 with Karabükspor at home, missing out the chance to topple league leader Beşiktaş from its seat.      

On March 18, Trabzonspor continued its marvelous run and dismantled Galatasaray 2-0 in Trabzon.

Trabzonspor’s goals came from Dame N’Doye in the 23rd minute and Yusuf Yazıcı in the 49th, as Galatasaray’s two-game winning streak came to an end.  
    
Trabzonspor has not lost a match since the beginning of this year, and increased its points total to 41, rising to fifth in the league.

Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, lost 3-2 at home to Konyaspor, with its coach Dick Advocaat announcing his retirement at the end of the season.

“I have made a decision and shared it with the club administration,” Advocaat told reporters after the match.

“I will leave here at the end of the season. It does not mean that I will leave only Fenerbahçe, I will end my career as a coach,” the Dutchman added.

Also in week 25 games, Kasımpaşa beat Osmanlıspor 3-2, Kayserispor lost 4-3 at home to cellar-dweller Gaziantespor, Adanaspor won 2-1 against Akhisar Belediye at home, Rizespor lost 1-0 at Gençlerbirliği and Bursaspor suffered another home defeat, this time 3-1 against Alanyaspor.