Trabzonspor back on glory trail

By Türker Tozar

Trabzonspor pulled themselves back into the Turkish Superleague title reckoning with a 2-1 win at Rizespor as the top two, Fenerbahçe SK and Galatasaray SK, both lost.

Fener falter
Leaders Fenerbahçe suffered a surprise defeat against relegation-threatened MKE Ankaragücü in Ankara. Cenk Isler scored the decisive goal for the home side from the penalty spot on 71 minutes to move his team five points clear of the drop zone.

Erkan decider
However, second-placed Galatasaray missed out on the chance to reduce the four-point gap at the top after Gheorghe Hagi’s men were also defeated - against Gençlerbirligi SK at Ali Sami Yen stadium. Cihan Haspolatli’s header had given the home side a fourth-minute lead but Gençlerbirligi replied through Souleyman Youla’s 31st-minute strike before defender Erkan Özbey scored what proved to be the winning goal eight minutes later.

Fatih strikes
Trabzonspor took full advantage of those two defeats by coming from behind to claim three points at Rizespor. Miroslaw Szymkowiak cancelled out István Ferenczi’s 23rd-minute opener for the home side on the stroke of half-time before the league's top marksman Fatih Tekke scored the winner with his 29th goal of the season on 54 minutes to move Trabzonspor to within two points of second place and a UEFA Champions League berth.

Musa boost
The win also moved them further away from Besiktas JK who saw Istanbulspor AS take a vital point from them in their bid for top-flight survival after Musa Kus cancelled out Çagdas Atan’s opener for the UEFA Cup qualifiers.

Relegation matters
The 17th-placed side are now three points off safety after Diyarbakirspor, in the final survival place, lost 2-1 at Konyaspor. Zafer Biryol and Altan struck for the home side in the first half, and the visitors could only muster a Yuppi second-half strike in reply. Meanwhile, Kayserispor boosted their survival hopes after Gökhan Ünal’s goal proved the difference against fellow strugglers Sakaryaspor AS, moving them four points clear of the relegation zone.

Sebatspor rarity
Elsewhere, BB Ankaraspor were held to a goalless draw by Samsunspor, Denizlispor came from two goals down to salvage a point against Malatyaspor and already-relegated Akçaabat Sebatspor recorded only their third league win of the season by defeating Gaziantepspor 2-0 courtesy of goals from Hasan Özer and Bayram Toysal.