Turkey round-up: Champions make early running

Took advantage 
With Fenerbahçe SK having drawn 0-0 with Trabzonspor on Friday, and the same fate befalling Besiktas JK at Bursaspor yesterday, the reigning champions took full advantage of their Istanbul rivals' failure to record victories on the opening weekend of the season.

Inauspicious start 
Despite the emphatic nature of Galatasaray's triumph, their campaign got off to an inauspicious start when a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón and defender Vedat Inceefe allowed Sinan Ertan to open the scoring in the 19th minute.

Order restored 
However, Ümit Karan restored order with two goals before Brazilian Felie scored his first for the club from the penalty spot after Arif Erdem, who completed the scoring in the 56th minute, was felled in the box.

Newcomers beaten 
Göztepe and Gençlerbirligi SK, who had Ümit Bozkurt sent off, also took maximum points today, defeating newcomers Elazigspor 2-1 and Kocaelispor 3-1 respectively, to join Galatasaray at the summit after Saturday's four matches ended in draws.

Started strongly 
UEFA Cup participants Besiktas, coached by Mircea Lucescu, started strongly against Bursaspor and deservedly went ahead on 28 minutes through Daniel Pancu, Lucescu's fellow Romanian. Their lead, though, lasted just two minutes as Junior headed an equaliser from a corner.

Cheeky back-heel 
Goalscorer Pancu turned provider in the 64th minute, his cheeky back-heeled pass releasing Tümer Metin to put Besktas back in front. Yet again their advantage was short-lived as Okan Yilmaz converted a penalty after Colombian goalkeeper Oscar Córdoba brought down Bursaspor's Murat Sözkesen.

Draws galore 
Elsewhere on Saturday, promoted Adanaspor AS would have been satisfied with a 2-2 draw against Istanbulspor AS, while the matches between MKE Ankaragücü and Malatyaspor, and Diyarbakirspor and Altay GK, finished 1-1. Gaziantepspor and Denizlispor also drew 1-1 today.