Hakan saves Galatasaray's blushes
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Article summary
Hakan Sükür scored ten minutes from time to seal victory for Galatasaray SK against bottom side Sakaryaspor AS.
Article body
Hakan Sükür scored ten minutes from time to rescue all three points for Galatasaray SK against bottom side Sakaryaspor AS.
Dogged defence
It was a far from fluent performance from the Istanbul giants who struggled after falling behind to a second-minute goal from Ragip Basdag. Turkish international Hasan Sas equalised on 16 minutes but some dogged resistance looked likely to earn Sakaryaspor their first point this season before Hakan's late intervention.
Gökdeniz double
Galatasaray have nine points, but they remain three behind Trabzonspor who maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with victory over Gençlerbirligi SK. Mehmet Yilmaz and Gökdeniz Karadeniz (2) scored for Trabzonspor before Ugur Boral pulled one back for the visitors in the closing stages.
Denizlispor lose
Trabzonspor are now sole leaders of the Superleague after Denizlispor dropped their first points of the season in a 3-2 defeat at BB Ankaraspor, Brazilian Tita scoring twice for the home side. Champions Fenerbahçe SK capitalised on that result to move into second place with a 2-0 win against Kayserispor. Netherlands striker Pierre van Hooijdonk scored both goals, the second, a trademark free-kick. Çaykur Rizespor also grabbed a two-goal win against fellow Black Sea side Samsunspor. Murat Sözkesen and Cem Baki were Rizespor's scorers.
Late comeback
Besiktas JK are still without a win after losing 4-3 to Gaziantepspor. The result leaves last season's third-placed finishers languishing in 13th. It could have been worse for the home side - playing at the Izmit Ismetpasa stadium while the Inönü is renovated - who were 4-0 down before they got on the scoresheet. Norwegian striker John Carew scored twice and Ali Günes made it 4-3 but Besiktas could not complete the comeback.
First wins
Elsewhere, MKE Ankaragücü beat Akçaabat Sebatspor 2-1, Konyaspor were 2-1 winners against Istanbulspor AS and Malatyaspor returned home happy after beating Diyarbakirspor by the same scoreline, with striker Yunus Altun getting both goals.
