Drogba watches, Burak scores as Galatasaray wins 2-0

ISTANBUL

Turkish international Burak Yılmaz celebrates his goal with Wesley Sneijder. DAILY NEWS photo, Emrah GÜREL

Boosted by the transfer of Ivorian star Didier Drogba this week, Galatasaray turned in a confident 2-0 victory at home tonight against surprise outfit Antalyaspor, consolidating their place atop the Turkish Super League table.

Drogba, who arrived in Istanbul on Feb. 8, witnessed Galatasaray’s Turkish international forward Burak Yılmaz score the game's only goals and deliver the message that he’s ready to compete with the Ivorian striker. 

Galatasaray’s other star midseason transfer, Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, made his first start for the Lions in his third appearance.
 
Antalyaspor, who has struggled as of late despite a tremendous first half of the season, failed to trouble Galatasaray as the Lions dominated the match from the beginning to the end. Burak scored his first goal in the eighth minute and then padded the tally in the second half in the 62nd minute. 

Galatasaray now has 40 points, five more than second-place Beşiktaş, who won 3-1 at Elazığspor on Feb. 9. Antalyaspor dropped to fourth with 33 points. 

Elsewhere, title candidates Fenerbahçe redeemed themselves with an away victory against Mersin İdman Yurdu after an unexpected defeat against unfancied Sivasspor last week. Cameroonese striker Pierre Webo, who joined during the January transfer window, again proved his worth by scoring the only goal of the match. The goal was his second in just two games with his new team. The match, which sent Fener to 34 points, gave the team morale ahead of a high-tension match this weekend against Trabzonspor on Feb. 17.