Galatasaray back in driver’s seat after rivals’ derby

ISTANBUL

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Galatasaray has enjoyed claiming the top spot on the Turkish Spor Toto Super League standings back after the Fenerbahçe-Beşiktaş derby, won 1-0 by the home side.

Fenerbahçe narrowly won the game against Beşiktaş with an injury-time goal by Senegalese international Moussa Sow late on March 23.

In the 19th minute, home team Fenerbahçe’s Nigerian forward Emmanuel Emenike missed a one-on-one chance, failing to take advantage of a defensive mistake by Beşiktaş center-back Necip Uysal.

Emenike was heavily protested by fans after missing the chance before he demanded to be replaced, taking off his jersey. However, he stayed on the pitch until half-time, when he was replaced by Cameroonian striker Pierre Webo.

In the 80th minute, Beşiktaş midfielder Oğuzhan Özyakup’s shot went out in an open chance.
In injury time, Fenerbahçe forward Sow broke the deadlock as he took the shot without trapping the ball in the area, after having received a head flick from Webo.

 “We faced all kinds of unlucky things in the game,” said Fenerbahçe coach İsmail Kartal, referring to Eminke’s trouble and the injury of back Gökhan Gönül during the warm-up.

“We played well in general terms, we have played five derby games so far and won four,” he said.  
“Before the game, we had an advantage on the table, but now it’s gone. It is going to be real battle until the end of the season and there are nine more matches to play,” said Beşiktaş Croatian coach Slaven Biliç after the game. “I am deeply disappointed because we had four clear chances to turn the game in our favor. Our performance didn’t deserve a defeat tonight,” said the coach, who has also been suffering from a knock-out from the UEFA Europa League after a 3-1 home defeat against Club Brugge. 

With the win, the Canaries raised their points to 53, while Beşiktaş has 54 points and Galatasaray is leading the league with 55 points, thanks to their 3-2 win against Kasımpaşa, coming back from a two-goal cushion.

Earlier in the derby day, Istanbul Başakşehir beat Ankara’s Gençlerbirliği 3-1 as Trabzonspor won 2-0 against Akhisar Belediyespor.

On March 22, SAI Kayseri Erciyesspor at the relegation line lost 0-3 against Çaykur Rizespor as Mersin İdmanyurdu failed to one goal from Gaziantepspor. Medicana Sivasspor beat Bursaspor 4-1.

Balikesirspor at the bottom of the standings won 4-1 against Eskişehirspor as another relegation candidate.

Kardemir Karabükspor lost 0-1 against Torku Konyaspor.

Beşiktaş striker Demba Ba, Bursaspor’s Fernandao and Trabzonspor target-man Oscar Cardozo are tied for first place on the top-scorers list with 15 goals.