Turkey round-up: Galatasaray hang on at top

Galatasaray SK did enough to maintain their position at the summit of the Turkish first division with a narrow 1-0 win over Diyarbakirspor.

Off-key
The Istanbul giants, with a game in hand over nearest challengers Gaziantespor and Besiktas JK, were a long way from their best but still took the three points after Hasan Yigit conceded an own goal following a dangerous cross from Hasan Sas.

Nine-goal thriller
The undoubted highlight of the weekend, however, was the nine-goal thriller regaled by Malatyaspor and Gençlerbirligi, with the former side edging a pulsating contest 5-4.

First blood
Sertan Eser drew first blood on four minutes but the visitors equalised on the half hour mark through Thomas Zdebel, who came out on top one-on-one against Malatyaspor goalkeeper Petar Milosevski.

Defensive error
Ümit Kara had a defensive error to thank when he made it 2-1 for Gencler but the visitors celebrations only lasted four minutes because Mert Korkmaz levelled. Malatyaspor went into the break in the box seat thanks to Tolga Seyhan.

Frantic encounter
Sertan hit his second and Malatyaspor’s fourth on 62 minutes but Murat Salar replied from close range for Gençler. With ten minutes of this frantic encounter remaining, Timuçin Beyazit slammed the decisive fifth while Veysel Cihan rallied for the demoralised Ankara side.

Besiktas prevail
Besiktas were strong enough to overcome a 1-0 deficit to defeat Denizlispor 2-1. Peter Kábat put the visitors ahead with a free-kick goal but Sergen Yalçin levelled before a Pancu header took the points.

Fenerbahçe held
Fenerbahçe SK drew 1-1 with Adanaspor AS in a match played in an empty stadium because of the sanction imposed on the hosts as a result of their fans. The visitors went ahead through Ali Asim Balkaya but Haim Revivo whipped in a brilliant free-kick to level.

Ahinful a handful
A Mehmet Yilmaz double inspired Trabzonspor to a 2-0 defeat of last-placed Kocaelispor, the striker on target in both halves while Ankaragücü sauntered to a 4-0 defeat of Bursaspor with Augustine Ahinful scoring the pick of the goals on 47 minutes.

Gaziantespor on form
Gaziantepspor again impressed in their 4-2 defeat of Samsunspor, Göztepe could find no way past Istanbulspor in a 1-1 draw while Elazigspor despatched Altay 2-0.