Besiktas resume normal service

Besiktas JK went about consigning their elimination from the UEFA Champions League last week to the past by overcoming Akçaabat Sebatspor 2-1, maintaining their six-point lead at the top of the Turkish Superleague.

Córdoba blunder
Besiktas, who lost 2-0 to Chelsea FC in midweek, had to come from behind away from home to collect the win once a mistake from Oscar Córdoba after Antonio Zago’s backpass had allowed Yusuf Tokaç to slot the ball into the net in the eighth minute.

Serdar decider
But Tümer Metin equalised at the start of the second half, tucking away Federico Giunti’s assist and Serdar Topraktepe made sure of the points when he fired in a shot from close range following Ibrahim Üzülmez’s cross. 

Easy win
Second-placed Fenerbahçe SK brushed aside Denizlispor 2-0 at the Sükrü Saraçoglu stadium, going ahead when Tuncay Sanli connected powerfully with Ümit Özat’s delivery in the 57th minute. Ümit was also the provider for the second, crossing for Serhat Akin to head in with less than 20 minutes to go.

Trabzonspor too good
Trabzonspor, in third position, consigned Galatasaray SK to their third defeat in four matches, winning by the odd goal in three. Fatih Tekke opened the scoring in the eleventh minute after a mistake by Frank de Boer, who was later sent off. Ibrahima Yattara made it 2-0 before Portuguese defender César Prates pulled one back with a free-kick - but the Istanbul side were unable to equalise.

Özkan goal
Gençlerbirligi SK edged out Istanbulspor AS 1-0 despite being outplayed for long periods. A 61st-minute header from Mustafa Özkan, who had seen a first-half header hit the post, was enough to separate the sides.

On a roll
Gaziantepspor’s good form continued in a 3-1 home win against Elazigspor. Bulgarian Zdravko Lazarov opened the scoring in 15th minute for the home side but Yunus Altun equalised straight away. Hasan Özer and Hasan Yurt scored the others for the home side, the latter coming in the 90th minute.

Pulsating encounter
Malatyaspor and Konyaspor fought out a pulsating 3-3 draw in a match that swung both ways. A last-minute goal from Tolga Seyhan proved enough to snatch a point after Fazli Ulusoy had collected two for the away side. Cenk Isler, Zafer Biryol and Altan Aksoy were on target for the hosts.

Other games
Elsewhere, Samsunspor defeated Rizespor 2-1 away from home with goals from Serkan Aykut and Caner Altin while MKE Ankaragücü ended their six-week winning drought by defeating troubled Adanaspor AS 3-1. Diyarbakirspor and Bursaspor could manage no more than a goalless draw.