Turkey round-up: Besiktas edge further ahead

Turkish Super League leaders Besiktas JK extended their advantage at the top to three points with a 1-0 victory at struggling Elazigspor.

Headed winner
After a goalless first half, Brazilian defender António Carlos met Tümer Metin's right-wing cross with a far-post header for the only goal of the game.

Galatasaray held
The goal proved even more important as second-placed Galatasaray SK were held to a 2-2 draw at home by struggling Adanaspor AS, who took the lead midway through the first half with a goal from Cafer Aydin. Although Galatasray quickly equalised through Ali Lukunku, Volkan Bekiroglu restored the away side's advantage just before half-time.

Lukunku again
Lukunku equalised for a second time six minutes into the second half, and the home side came close to winning the game, but efforts from both Ümit Karan and Ergün Penbe hit the post.

Late equaliser
Third–placed Gençlerbirligi SK slipped further off the pace at the top with a 3-3 draw at Altay GK. Two goals from Ahmed Hassan put the away side in command, but Sinan Kaloglu pulled a goal back for Altay from the penalty spot. Filip Daems made it 3-1 a minute after half-time, but Sinan then scored his second of the game and a late equaliser from Effa Owona gave Altay a draw.

Fenerbahçe fall behind
Fenerbahçe SK had to recover from falling a goal behind in the first minute at home to Samsunspor, as former Fenerbahçe player Oktay Derelioglu gave the away side the lead after just 45 seconds. Samsunspor had chances to increase their lead, with Musa Aydin heading against the post just before half-time and again late in the second half. However, Fenerbahçe also went close, with Tuncay Sanli's shot hitting the post, before Ümit Özat's right-wing cross was met by Samuel Johnson, whose header was deflected into the net off Osman Özköylü with five minutes left to play.

Kocaelispor closing in
At the bottom of the table, Kocaelispor closed the gap on Göztepe to three points with a 2-1 win away at Denizlispor. Allthough the home side took the lead through Ismet Tasdemir miway through the first half, goals from Hüseyin Karakayis and Zdravko Lazarov turned the match in Kocaelispor's favour. Göztepe earned a 0-0 draw at Trabzonspor.

Ankaragücü win
MKE Ankaragücü  were 3-1 winners at home to Diyarbakirspor, taking the lead through Yilmaz Özlem's deflected free-kick after 18 minutes. Although Celaleddin Koçak headed the away team level before half-time, goals in the final 20 minutes from Augustine and Adem Dursun gave the home team the win.

European challenge
Malatyaspor continued to challenge for a European place with a 4-2 win at home to Bursaspor, with Fazli Ulusoy, Mithat Yavas, Mert Korkmaz and Sertan Eser all scoring, while the away team's scorers were Júnior and Emre Dogru. Meanwhile, Gaziantepspor were 4-3 winners against Istanbulspor AS, with Maxim Romaschenko scoring what proved to be the decisive goal.