2002-2003 1.Süper Lig

Week 23 - Analysis by Serbülent Şengün

"Up in the Air" from Galatasaray-Fenerbahçe game

As the weeks pass by and we get closer to the end of the season the tension is getting more and more intense. To add to the tension, this week had two derbies with high level of intension, which left the week to be remembered for not the football, but rivalries, quarrels and brawls.

The regular league fixtures started with the Gaziantepspor hosting Adanaspor. On the 9 games played, there were 5 draws, 3 games were won by the home sides, and Gençlerbirliği won against Ankaragücü which was an away game literally, but considering both teams play at the same stadium, it is not quite possible to call that an away game. Nevertheless for the sake of statistics we can say that home sides scored 12 of the 18 goals scored this week, while visitors managed 6.

Games :

Gaziantepspor (6) – Adanaspor (16): What happens when both teams try to score through counter attacks? You get a weird game. That’s pretty much what happened in Gaziantep, as both teams tried to find goals when the other team was on the attack. Both teams did not get many chances for a long time. The visitors scored the first goal of the game, then they got one down as İbrahim got a red card. From then on the home side pushed forward for the equaliser. But not till the last minutes of the game could they get it. Overall a draw helped Adanaspor keep their hopes alive, and Gaziantepspor does not look the team they were the first half of the season. (1–1)

Denizli (9) - Altay (13) : This was one of the better games of the week. Both teams relentlessly tried for a W, rather than a D, but in the end the visitors got what they wanted. Interestingly both teams scored almost the same goal, the home side in the first half, the visitors early in the second. UEFA's surprise team Denizli missed a penalty kick through their biggest asset in the offence, Mustafa Özkan. In the end the draw helped Altay maintain their position in the standings. (1-1)

Göztepe (15) – Samsunspor (11) : The fierce at the bottom of the league is quite fierce, and it can only get fiercer. Yet on this particular game, both teams tried to control each other. With Samsunspor’s rising form within the last few weeks, Göztepe did not risk a lot and preferred a controlled game. They tried to break the Samsunspor fort through the centre, yet the visitors held on, and in time of need goalkeeper Fevzi was there once again. The game ended like it started. (0-0)

Malatyaspor (7) – Elazığspor (14) : Malatyaspor has been known for their strength at home court. Yet obviously they were physically drained from the cup game against Galatasaray. The visitors played the better ball, and managed to score the first goal of the game, after missing a couple. The home side equalised early in the second half. After the goal Malatyaspor played better as the visitors probably decided that one point would be good enough from one of the roughest away games on the league. Yet another draw for the week. (1–1)

Galatasaray (2) – Fenerbahçe (4): The controversial derby once again got more press for the tension on and off the field than the football played. It should be noted however that the tension on this game was much more “soft” considering the first game among the two teams, this season. As for football Galatasaray totally dominated the first half, the visitors did not even have a shot in the first 45 minutes, while Galatasaray scored two. The second half Fenerbahçe controlled the ball, but again it was Galatasaray that got the better chances to score, as two of their balls were denied by the goal posts. In the end the home side won a very well deserved game, rather easily too. (2-0)

Diyarbakırspor (10) – Bursaspor (17) : It was Diyarbakırspor all throughout the game. With the skilful play of Murat Hacıoğlu and a Bursaspor side not forcing themselves to do anything, what could have been a difficult game turned out to be a very easy game for Diyarbakırspor. The home side used both wings very effectively to get to the results. I have said this many many times, but considering the quality of their squad, what on earth is Bursaspor doing at the 17th spot. They have to get out of this slump soon, or it is going to be way too late for them. (4-0)

İstanbulspor (12) – Kocaelispor (18) : Another game in which a win or loss would be effective in the mental health for the coming weeks. Kocaelispor is far from struggling now. They do not play bad football, but there is a big lack of chemistry among players, among the defence and midfield. İstanbulspor on the other hand is still lacking finishing at the offensive end which has rather become chronic this year. With no goals in the first half, the visitors got the edge when they scored at the 62nd minute. Yet they could not hold on to it as Alban Bushi equalised for the home side; his first goal after being away at Trabzonspor for about a year. Then it was the veteran defender Uche, who scored a well fought goal to steal the three points for his team. When are the İstanbulspor attackers going to have consistency and score, they can’t leave it to defenders and midfielders all the time. (2-1)

Ankaragücü (8) – Gençlerbirliği (3): The second derby of the week was more tension driven, and there were more non-football elements than the GS-FB game. Gençlerbirliği scored an early goal through in form striker Veysel, yet at the 30th minute the referee somehow managed to show his yellow cards four times in one minute, to kick Gençlerbirliği’s two essential players Ahmet Saka and Ahmet Hassan out of the game. With playing 9-11 Gençlerbirliği thought to defend, and they did so well. In a Gençlerbirliği counter attack at the beginning of the second half Ankaragücü’s captain Yılmaz got his second yellow and was kicked out too. Interestingly Ankaragücü missed their best chances after the game was 10 to 9. Yet Gençlerbirliği had a few great chances themselves. After all was done, the hottest team in the league had managed to win another 3 points, but the fight that broke after the game on and off the field was nothing less than embarrassing for both teams. (0-1)

Trabzonspor (5) - Beşiktaş (1): Beşiktaş was definitely worn out after the cup game and could not stand the other best physical team in the league after losing to Gençlerbirliği at the cup game a few days ago. Trabzonspor was the only team on the pitch that was playing football. They tried everything to score, the accuracy in their passing however was not rewarded at the finishing end of the field. They waited 82 minutes before they could finally score, then they had a few more chances to score another and seal the victory. But right at the end of the game during stoppage time Beşiktaş’s Pancu equalized, putting an end to the Trabzonspor dreams of ending the unlosing streak of the league leaders. (1-1)

Goals of the week :

1. Pancu (Beşiktaş) : Pancu, after dribbling the ball for around 40 metres, passed the ball to İlhan Mansız, yet with Trabzonspor’s Erman intercepting it, he found the ball right in front of him and shot first time from aroud 25 meters. Petkovic was helpless.

Team of the week : Galatasaray SK - İstanbul

The way they played the derby was top class football and tactics. With Volkan, Cihan playing together first time together, they produced one of the best fighting duos in the midfield. They could have scored more against their bitter rivals. As a matter of fact, Fenerbahçe was not bad, it was Galatasaray that made them look that bad.

Player of the week : Murat Hacıoğlu (Diyarbakırspor)

He had been on this spot once before. This week he formed a great partnership with Rraklli, made three assists and scored one himself. He was on the left wing, he was on the right wing, and he was there to score. Really impressive, productive and effective football.