Samsun back to lower division

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Samsunpor players leave the pitch devastated after failing to hang on to the league while Antalyaspor players celebrate despite a loss (small photo on the left). AA photo

Samsunspor became the latest team to bid farewell to the top league, as the 34-week regular season in the Spor Toto Super League came to an end.

With its rival Antalyaspor losing at Fenerbahçe Saturday night, a victory would have been enough for the Black Sea side to stay in the Spor Toto Super League, but Sivasspor, determined to book a place in the post-season fight for a Europa League berth next season, gave the home side no chance.

Samsunspor led through Michael Fink’s 24th-minute goal, however, Sivasspor leveled nine minutes later with Nigerian forward Michael Eneramo grabbing his 10th league goal of the season. Erman Kılıç’s goal 10 minutes from time sealed Samsunspor’s fate.

Fenerbahçe rounded off its regular-season campaign with a 2-0 win over Antalyaspor, as goals from Senegal forward Moussa Sow and Cameroon’s Henri Bienvenu moving the Istanbul club to six points behind leader Galatasaray - which was to play its final game late yesterday at already-relegated Manisaspor - before the championship playoff mini-league begins.

Samsunspor coach Mesut Bakkal announced his resignation after the game, putting the blame on the referee for the loss.

“I think of leaving football when I see such injustice,” Bakkal said of referee Hüseyin Göçek’s performance. “No one should be in a position to tamper with a city’s fate. I’m leaving my post and will return to Ankara.”

Medical Park Antalyaspor coach Mehmet Özdilek said it was important for the club and the city to hang on to their position in the Spor Toto Super League. “We’ve had a tough season, I congratulate my players despite the loss,” Özdilek told reporters after the game. “One side cheers while another side is sad. It is a very bad situation for my colleague at Samsunspor and his players. I hope that they will be back soon.”

In the UEFA Europa League play-off race, Istanbul B.B. leapfrogged Gençlerbirliği by beating them 1-0, thanks to Pierre Webo’s 75th-minute goal. Gençlerbirliği missed out on a European place, while Bursaspor held on to the final playoff spot despite a 2-0 home defeat to Gaziantepspor. Goals from Muhammet Demir and Cenk Tosun proved enough for the visiting side.

Eskişehirspor clinched sixth spot as it ended a four-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Mersin İdmanyurdu. Diomansy Kamara and Rodrigo Tello were on target, while Ankaragücü’s miserable season ended with a 5-0 defeat at home to Kayserispor. 

The bottom side from the capital was 3-0 down at half-time as Emir Kujovic and Australian James Troisi put Kayserispor in control, and the Central Anatolian club wrapped it up with a second-half brace from substitute Diego Biseswar.

Winning only 11 points in 34 weeks, Ankaragücü matched Zeytinburnu’s record in the 1996-1997 season for the worst ever league performance. It also extended its losing streak to 15 matches, breaking another unwanted record.