Galatasaray moves atop league standings

ISTANBUL

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Galatasaray won 3-2 at home against Bursaspor on Sept. 2 to finish week 3 of the Spor Toto Super League campaign atop the standings, as rivals Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor slumped further in the young season.

Sivasspor held Fenerbahçe to a goalless draw while Trabzonspor lost 1-0 at Gaziantepspor away on the same night.

Despite the score, Fenerbahçe coach Aykut Kocaman, who has been under fire for his team’s lackluster performance so far this season, sounded hopeful after the Sivasspor match. “We had the chances to score, especially in the first half, but could not convert them,” Kocaman told a post game press conference. “In short, the game is a lost two points for Fenerbahçe.”

When asked if he was happy with the performance of Brazilian midfielder Alex de Souza, who has frequently been left out of the starting lineup by Kocaman and reportedly feels unwanted at the Istanbul club, the Fenerbahçe coach said he was “happy with the performances of each and every player.” Alex was among the starters against Sivasspor and had a decent performance until being substituted in the 70th minute.

At the Gaziantep Kamil Ocak Stadium, Bosnia and Herzegovina international Senijad Ibricic dominated proceedings as Gaziantepspor saw off Trabzonspor 1-0. Ibricic scored the only goal of the game from the spot eight minutes after half-time, but was then booked and sent off in the 65th minute, leaving his side to hang on until the final whistle.

On the other side, the pressure on Trabzonspor coach Şenol Güneş is mounting following a dismal start to the season that has included a premature end to the club’s European campaign after it was bounced from the Europa League qualifiers by unfancied Hungarian side Videoton.

Tough victory

In Istanbul, Galatasaray saw off Bursaspor in a five-goal thriller to secure top spot in the league table. Fatih Terim’s men were given a rough ride at the Türk Telekom Arena, eventually emerging as 3-2 winners.

The home side took the lead 24 minutes in through Umut Bulut but had it washed out seven minutes after the break when Musa Çağıran struck. But Galatasaray roared back, taking a two-goal lead when Çağıran put through his own goal and Burak Yılmaz scored in the 80th minute. Bursaspor responded through Ömer Erdoğan, but there was not enough time for the 2009-2010 champion to level again.
Speaking after the game, Terim noted the club had trouble in defense, especially after losing Tomas Ujfalusi to a long-term injury. Though sitting at the top of the standings, the Lions have conceded six goals in their three games. 

Addressing the problem, the experienced coach announced the name of the target player for the Istanbul club. “We have to bring someone [in]. Obviously a defender,” Terim told reporters. “We’re interested in Kolo Toure from Manchester City. We can ask help from [Emmanuel] Eboue if we need.
“We have to complete this transfer by the UEFA Champions League list deadline,” Terim said.