Dirk Kuyt steers Fenerbahçe past Gençlerbirliği to 5th consecutive victory

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe knocked out Gençlerbirliği 1-0, with a solitary goal from Dirk Kuyt. AA photo

Fenerbahçe fans may as well borrow Galatasaray’s “Drogba is the cure” chant and replace “Drogba” with Dirk Kuyt, as the Dutch once again put on a decisive display tonight for the Canaries, sealing the 1-0 victory in Ankara against Gençlerbirliği.
 
The dark clouds after the shocking Torku Konyaspor defeat during the Super League opener have dissipated now, as Fenerbahçe sweeps up its fifth consecutive victory, with its first one outside of Istanbul.
 
Following an entertaining but goalless first half, the visitors increased their assaults toward Gençlerbirliği’s goal, culminated by a shot from Mehmet Topal on the verge of the area, only denied by Ramazan Köse’s right post in the 58th minute.
 
Topal’s close miss resulted in a final warning, as only two minutes later Dirk Kuyt was much less prodigal than his teammates in forgiving the host’s shortcomings in their defense.  
 
Gençlerbirliği defenders failed to clear the ball of danger after blocking a first shot from Pierre Webo and a second one from Egemen Korkmaz. The ball then deflected to the Dutch veteran who was unmarked in the goal area and sent it home with a potent shot.
 
Another two minutes later, Fenerbahçe’s Senegalese striker Moussa Sow came close to doubling the score – or breaking his leg after violently kicking in an advertising board, angry against himself for not finding the net after having dribbled the goalkeeper.
 
Gençlerbirliği’s efforts in finding an equalizer were fruitless and the Ankara side was even left with 10-players on the pitch in the 84th minute after a second yellow card was handed to Özgür İleri.
 
Elsewhere, Trabzonspor notched its third straight victory against Torku Konyaspor with two goals scored by its defender Mustafa Yumlu.
 
Eskişehirspor won a 2-0 victory in Istanbul against the city’s ambitious minnows Kasımpaşa with second half goals from Diego Angelo and Diomansy Kamara.
 
Goals poured in Elazığ as Sivasspor regains victory by beating the hosts 4-2. Ahmet Görkem and Tidiane Sane fended off Manuel Da Costa and John Utaka’s goals, but a brace from Aatif Chahechouhe gave the final victory to Roberto Carlos’s players.

Rizespor withstands Galatasaray pressure
 
Yesterday’s games included a struggling Galatasaray that failed to win its first match without Fatih Terim in charge, being held to a 1-1 draw against Çaykur Rizespor at the Türk Telekom Arena.
 
Engin Baytar gave the two-time defending champions the lead with a classy effort from outside the box, but his 18th-minute goal was canceled by a Tevfik Köse header early in the second half.
 
Assistant coaches Hasan Şaş and Ümit Davala led Galatasaray in the absence of Terim, who was controversially sacked by the board last week, but the duo’s spell in charge might not be too long, as the club is reportedly in talks with Italian Roberto Mancini to take the realm.
 
Gaziantepspor jumped from the bottom spot with a 3-0 win over Kardemir Karabükspor, its first win of the season.
 
Busaspor and Akhisar Belediye made a goalless draw on Sept. 28.
 
With the victory, Fenerbahçe took first place provisionally on the standings with 15 points. After bringing a point from Istanbul, Çaykur Rizespor advanced to second place with 13 points.
 
Galatasaray increased its points tally to seven points, while Trabzonspor totals 12 points.
 
Beşiktaş, which is on 12 points, could get the top spot back, however, when it meets Medical Park Antalyaspor tomorrow.
 
Kayseri Erciyesspor hosts Kayserispor in the second game that will wrap up round six, which lovers of the Central Anatolian town's delicatessen may or may not want to dub it “the pastırma derby.”