Fenerbahçe flex their muscle

By Türker Tozar

Leaders Fenerbahçe SK defeated Rizespor 2-0 at the Sükrü Saraçoglu stadium to stay four points clear of second-placed Galatasaray SK, who overcame Konyaspor by the same scoreline.

Overhead kick
Alex de Souza opened the scoring for Fenerbahçe on 19 minutes from the penalty spot, before Servet Çetin doubled the score nine minutes into the second half with a neat header. Galatasaray's victory against Konyaspor came from an 18th-minute Hakan Sükür goal and a spectacular overhead kick from Necati Ates on the half-hour mark.

Trabzonspor chase
Trabzonspor, in third place two points behind Galatasaray, continued their pursuit of the leading pair with a 3-1 home win against Kayserispor. Ibrahima Yattara scored from the penalty spot in the first half before Mehmet Yilmaz extended the lead in the second period. Gökhan Ünal pulled one back for Kayserispor before Celaleddin Koçak made it 3-1 with a last-minute strike.

Çalimbay glee
Besiktas JK registered their first win under new coach Riza Çalimbay, defeating Malatyaspor 1-0 after Ömer Erdogan deflected the ball into his own net on 75 minutes. Meanwhile, Samsunspor travelled to MKE Ankaragücü and won 2-1. Tunisia striker Kaies Ghodhbane scored two goals and Umut Bulut struck the consolation.

Early strikes 
Gaziantepspor defeated Denizlispor 3-1 at home. Gökhan Zan and Zied Jaziri registered early strikes before Ömer Riza pulled a goal back on 56 minutes and Tarek Ettayeb restored the two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute.

Ergin error
Elsewhere, Akçaabat Sebatspor lost 2-1 at BB Ankaraspor with Brazilian Wederson giving the Ankara team a 1-0 lead before Erman Ergin's own goal doubled the lead. Orhan Kaynak struck for the visitors. Diyarbakirspor defeated Istanbulspor AS with a goal from Eser Yagmur, while struggling Sakaryaspor held Gençlerbirligi SK to a 2-2 draw.