Galatasaray’s winless streak continues with 1-1 home draw against MP Antalya

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Burak Yılmaz who scored Turkey's first goal against Romania during the week has missed many opportunities during tonight's game against MP Antalya. DHA photo

Defending Turkish champions Galatasaray obtained their third straight draw in four games tonight with a 1-1 result at home against Medical Park Antalyaspor, ahead of the much-awaited Champions League rendez-vous against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
 
After pulling off heroics with the national squad during the international break and reviving Turkey’s World Cup hopes, Coach Fatih Terim failed to end the Lions’ slow start to the season in front of their supporters. 
 
Deprived of star midfielders Weslej Sneijder and Selçuk İnan, both injured during the match with their national teams, Terim started the match with an unusual midfield tandem composed of Engin Baytar and Emre Çolak.  
 
The duel between Galatasaray’s cherished strikers, Didier Drogba and Burak Yılmaz, and former star forward Milan Baros, who moved to the Mediterranean side this summer, was highly anticipated.
 
But it was MP Antalya’s veteran Brazilian Tita who opened the score in the 20th minute, after he received a breakaway pass and flicked a right-footed shot past the helpless Eray İşçan, who was substituting Fernando Muslera during the game.
 
The Istanbul side increased its assaults after the half-time break as MP Antalya, yet to win a game this season, shifted into counter-attack mode. 
 
Still alive in the game thanks to Drogba and Yılmaz’s many missed opportunities, the Mediterraneans came close to doubling the score in the 74th minute with Lamine Diarra who had only İşçan to beat. 
 
However, Diarra’s lob went over the bar, paving the way for Galatasaray’s equalizer only a minute later, when Drogba converted to a goal Sabri Sarıoğlu's cross into the area. 
 
Galatasaray now totals six points while MP Antalya increases to three points in the standings. 
 
Leaders Beşiktaş will pay a visit to the dangerous Bursaspor on Sept. 15, while title-contenders Fenerbahçe will receive Rytan Babel’s Kasımpaşa on Sept. 16.