Sneijder, Drogba, Burak on target as Galatasaray sinks Kayserispor

KAYSERİ

The Lions are now fourth with 16 points, the same as Eskişehirspor – third – which destroyed Çaykur Rizespor 4-1 and Sivasspor. AA photo

Galatasaray’s strikers were all on target tonight as the Lions defeated Kayserispor 4-2 in a tricky away game, thrusting their rivals, who long for a repeat of how they performed last year, at the bottom of the table.

Wesley Sneijder, much-in form since the arrival of Roberto Mancini at the beach, finely played the protagonist role once again by opening the score in the 14th minute with a shot from the arc of the penalty area.
 
Defender Aurélien Chedjou opened his goal tally for Galatasaray, doubling the score in the 25th minute, well served by Selçuk İnan.
 
However Kayserispor managed to turn the tides in two crazy minutes. The hero scoring the second goal, Chedjou, fouled Ömer Bayram in the area in the 44th minute, prompting the referee to point the penalty spot without any hesitation. All the protests from Galatasaray players didn’t change the referee’s decision, with Argentinian Pablo Mouche then reducing the score.
 
Kayserispor found yet another goal a minute later as Bayram, this time unchallenged by Galatasaray defenders, chipped the ball to Jaja. The goalkeeper was beaten, but the Brazilian failed to get the ball to reach the bounds of the net. However, with a strike of fortune, the ball hit Galatasaray’s defender, Dany Nounkeou, finding its way in front of Jaja, who then managed to score, sending the always expressive Coach Robert Prosinecki into an euphoric fit. 
 
Galatasaray took back the advantage in the 57th minute with Burak Yılmaz, who ended a two-month-scoring drought in the Turkish Super League.
 
The Ivorian legend Didier Drogba had the last word in the 74th minute, settling the 4-2 final score with an unstoppable long-range shot after a free-kick play.
 
The Lions are now fourth with 16 points, the same as Eskişehirspor – third – which destroyed Çaykur Rizespor 4-1 and Sivasspor.
 
Beşiktaş, which tied 3-3 with Akhisar Belediyespor yesterday, came in second with 17 points. 
 
Kasımpaşa, with 15 points, will have an opportunity to steal the second place slot from the Black Eagles tomorrow should they triumph against Trabzonspor in Istanbul. At 14 points, the Black Sea side will also seek to join the leading pack with a victory.
 
Fenerbahçe is assured to stay one more week at the top after defeating Gaziantepspor 3-1 in the week opener. The Yellow Canaries keep their rivals at bay with 22 points.