Fenerbahçe, Kasımpaşa meets to keep pace with top of league

ISTANBUL

Fenerbahçe players celebrate a goal during the team’s 2-1 win over Mersin İdman Yurdu in the Spor Toto Super League. The Yellow Canaries were held to two consecutive draws in the following games after that win.

Fenerbahçe visits Kasımpaşa in a surprisingly difficult Istanbul derby in the Spor Toto Super League on Sept. 29.

The Yellow Canaries hope to keep pace with early leader Galatasaray but they need to overcome a tricky test at Kasımpaşa. Galatasaray started the round six with 13 points, ahead of second-place Kasımpaşa and third Fenerbahçe. With Kasımpaşa and Fenerbahçe tied in nine points from five matches, the game will definitely be not easy for either team.

As the Super League newcomer, Kasımpaşa was thought to be in for a year for survival in the Turkish top-flight, but the Istanbul club made a flying start to the season after having a busy transfer window.
Kasımpaşa’s promotion-winning squad had many changes, and the club brought in important players such as Swedish international goalkeeper Anders Isaksson, German midfielder Fabian Ernst and Nigerian forward Kalu Uche.

However, despite winning three of its five games, the club sacked coach Metin Diyadin after last week’s defeat of Sivasspor “since it was deemed necessary,” according to a statement.

Kasımpaşa will meet Fenerbahçe under caretaker coach Fuat Kılıç. According to a report released on the website sporx.com, the club had offers turned down by two former Fenerbahçe coaches, Brazilian Zico and Germany’s Christoph Daum.

“Hopefully we will find our new boss in the next week, but Fuat Kılıç will manage the team against Fenerbahçe,” the club’s chairman Zafer Yıldırım was quoted as saying.

Fenerbahçe has its squad problems as well, with the club recently coping with a string of injuries. Dutchman Dirk Kuyt, who has been Fenerbahçe’s high-scorer this season, will again miss the Kasımpaşa game due to injury. However, the Serbian winger Milos Krasic and defender Egemen Korkmaz overcame their injuries. Midfielder Raul Meireles and forward Moussa Sow also have minor pains, but will be available for selection, according to reports.

Mersin seeks first win

Also on Sept. 29, it is Bursaspor vs. Gaziantepspor and Akhisar vs. Kardemir Karabükspor.
Another title contender, Trabzonspor, hosts Mersin İdman Yurdu on Sept. 30. Trabzonspor and Fenerbahçe had a goalless draw in Istanbul on Sept. 24, with the Black Sea Storm missing several chances that would have claimed the win. Trabzonspor is one of four teams with eight points, and will be the favorite against Mersin İdman Yurdu, who is yet to win a game in five matches.

Also on Sept. 30, Eskişehirspor plays Istanbul BB, Medical Park Antalyaspor vs. Sanica Boru Elazığspor and Gençlerbirliği vs. Kayserispor.

The match day six will be wrapped up with a match betwen Beşiktaş vs. Sivasspor on Oct. 1.