Turkey round-up: Besiktas stay in touch
Sunday, March 24, 2002
Article summary
Besiktas JK beat Rizespor 3-1 to keep up with Galatasaray SK and Fenerbahçe SK in the 1. Lig.
Article body
Besiktas JK kept up the pressure on Galatasaray SK and Fenerbahçe SK after they swept to a 3-1 1. Lig victory at Rizespor today.
Two for Ahmet
Third-placed Besiktas took the lead in the 57th minute after Ilhan Mansiz headed down a Zoubeir Baya free-kick for Ahmet Dursan to score with a low shot. Dursan scored his second after 72 minutes, heading home Ibrahim Üzülmez's cross, and the points were secured ten minutes later when Ilhan Mansiz was brought down in the area by Mustafa Koray Avci for a penalty. Mansiz took it himself to make it 3-0.
Late consolation
Rizespor threw everything they had at Besiktas and were rewarded with a late consolation goal two minutes from time. Besiktas are now two points behind Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, who are level on points at the top.
Incident packed
MKE Ankaragücü triumphed 4-2 in a thrilling encounter with Istanbulspor AS to stay fourth. The home side took the lead thanks to a fifth-minute volley from Augustine Ahinful and Burak Ozsarac was unlucky not to double that lead with an acrobatic overhead-kick that hit the post moments later.
Istanbulspor's Saffet Akbas levelled the scores at 1-1 just before the break.
Three dismissed
Ankaragücü restored their lead through Ozsarac before, in the 72nd minute, the game exploded into controversy. Ahinful was brought down on the edge of the area, but after consulting his assistant the referee changed the decision to a penalty kick. Ahinful's spot-kick was saved, but Akbas and Cenk Isler continued to protest to the referee, which resulted in both players being shown the red card. Istanbulspor's technical director Aykut Kocaman was also dismissed.
Six-goal thriller
With eight minutes to go, nine-man Istanbulspor drew level through a Ferdi Yanik header. Ankaragücü responded almost immediately as first Ozsarac scored and then, deep into injury time, Mehmet Turkmehmet's deflected shot gave Ankaragücü all three points.
Antalyaspor victorious
Elsewhere, Antalyaspor beat Göztepe 2-0 thanks to two goals from Atilla Birlik, while Malatyaspor overcame Gençlerbirligi SK 1-0, with Abdülkadir Demirci's goal proving decisive.
