Last-minute goal spoils Ankaragücü comeback

A goal in the dying minutes ruined Ankaragücü’s hopes of clinching a draw at Eskişehirspor yesterday, leaving the Ankara club at the bottom of Spor Toto Super League standings.

In yesterday’s other games, Istanbul BB clinched its first win under new coach Arif Erdem by beating Gazaintepsor 3-1 at home while Kayserispor lost 1-0 at Manisaspor.

Erdem was appointed to the post after the departure of Abdullah Avcı, who agreed to take over as coach of the Turkish national team.

Eskişehirspor appeared home and dry after heading into the dressing room at half-time up 2-0 against the team from the capital. But struggling Ankaragücü, which clinched its first victory of the season last week and has only posted five points, came from behind to equalize the contest. Diego Angelo, however, scored late for the home side to clinch a 3-2 victory and further break Ankaragücü’s hopes of avoiding relegation.

On Nov. 26, nine-man Galatasaray managed to beat Sivasspor in Istanbul.

Engin Baytar, who scored Galatasaray’s first goal, was sent off in the 81th minute while teammate Joan Elmander joined him in the dressing room after receiving a red card in the 89th.

Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim was cool about the red cards. “I congratulate [referee] Bülent Yıldırım, he was right in sending off both players,” Terim told a post game press conference. “I urge our supporters to keep calm, this was a referee who had no impact on the outcome of the game.”

 Terim said he would not publicly criticize his players, but that did not mean that they were right.

“My talking to them will be cruel, but one on one,” said Terim. “We have very tough games coming up, Gençlerbirliği away, followed by Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor matches. We already had some injured players, and I’m not happy with the red cards. But they are as sorry as I am.”

Also on Nov. 26, Orduspor lost 1-0 at home to Mersin İdman Yurdu and Samsunspor beat Antalyaspor by the same score.

Leader Fenerbahçe was held to a goalless draw at Gençlerbirliği in the week’s opening game on Nov. 25.