Wow! Konyaspor

The curse of those fixed matches must be catching up with Fenerbahce, fortunately for football as a whole.
(I'm talking, of course, about the matches for which they got in trouble with UEFA. ...And who knows if there were more they didn't get in trouble for?)

On the first matchday of the Turkish Super Lig, the team from the Asian part of Istanbul had to play a newly-promoted team.
Konyaspor had succeeded in being promoted to the first league, after finishing sixth (!) in the second. They achieved their promotion via a play-off system between places 4-7. (It should be mentioned that the team that finished in 3rd, in the Turkish TFF First League last year, was excluded from play-offs.)

Fenerbahce took a 2-0 lead early in the first half, and saw their goalkeeper save a penalty, as well, at 2-0.

But the humiliation still came.

The minnows managed to score 3 goals in 11 minutes (between the 76th and the 87th), and sunk the ambitious guests.

What a start for the Turkish 2013-2014 season!

Highlights:

Turkey - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014 (revised)

Galatasaray Istanbul --> Champions League Group Stage
Fenerbahce Istanbul --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Besiktas Istanbul --> Europa League Play-off Round
Bursaspor --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Trabzonspor --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Note: Fenerbahce and Besiktas had initially been suspended by UEFA due to involvement in a 2011 domestic match-fixing scandal, but were temporarily reinstated in their respective competitions and will compete until a final decision is reached regarding their match-fixing allegations.

Turkey - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2013-2014

Galatasaray Istanbul --> Champions League Group Stage
Bursaspor --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Kayserispor --> Europa League Play-off Round
Kasimpasa --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Trabzonspor --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Note: Fenerbahce and Besiktas were suspended by UEFA due to involvement in a domestic match-fixing scandal from 2011.

Note: (2013.08.02) Fenerbahce and Besiktas have been temporarily reinstated in their respective competitions, by UEFA, and will compete until a final decision is reached regarding their match-fixing allegations.

Where Is Last Week's Fener Team?

Fenerbahce really upset Benfica last week.

But this return leg they were content only to defend. Only when they were no longer leading on aggregate, did the Turkish team pose significant threat in attack.

And Benfica did not waste time.

They started well, and after only 9 minutes Gaitan put them ahead, much to the delight of the public.

However, that enjoyment was short-lived, because Fenerbahce was awarded a penalty that shouldn't have been, 12 minutes later.
Kuyt did not care how the PK was obtained, though, and converted it coolly.

But some bad central defending from the Turks saw Benfica regain the lead, after another 12 minutes, in the 35th.

At 1-2, though, Fenerbahce was going to the final.

Nevertheless, Benfica's top goalscorer, Cardozo, the author of their second goal, had other ideas, and he made it 3-1 midway through the second half.

From here on, Fenerbahce had to press forward more, but they did not have enough firepower to get more goals. They probably shouldn't have gotten the first one, either, anyway.

As expected, the final is Chelsea - Benfica. It should be good. (Certainly better than the Champions League final this year.)

Highlights:

Benfica in Trouble?

Fenerbahce played well better than the Portuguese outfit, but were frustrated time and time again until their goal.

Luckily, with so many refereeing errors in the Champions League, Europa League referees went the other way and judged Korkmaz's effort correctly. They gave the goal, and the Turkish team went on to win.

It's going to be very hard for Benfica to overturn the result.

Previously, they had not lost in this year's Europa League. 5 wins and 1 draw, was Benfica's tally prior to today's game.

Highlights:

Another Surprise Result in the Turkish League

After Orduspor downed Galatasaray, on Friday, it was Kasimpasa's turn to score another surprise win for the minnows of the Turkish SuperLiga.

The name of the winner of this match does not say much to football fans, but Kasimpasa does not have a weak team at the present time.
Among their notable players is a certain Kalu Uche, formerly from Almeria and Espanyol, who scored the first goal of this match with a delicate volley that made the Fenerbahce defenders look unrefined and unprepared.
The second goal was also a good one, in terms of breaking down the Fener defense.

After Orduspor, Kasimpasa also inches closer to Galatasaray. Both the team from Ordu and Istanbul's Kasimpasa are now on 12 points, just one behind the leaders.
Fenerbahce, by contrast, still has only 9 points. And they're going to play Besiktas next.

Highlights:

Turkey - UEFA Club Competitions Participants - 2012-2013

Galatasaray Istanbul --> Champions League Group Stage
Fenerbahce Istanbul --> Champions League Third Qualifying Round
Trabzonspor --> Europa League Play-off Round
Eskisehirspor --> Europa League Third Qualifying Round
Istanbul B.B. --> Europa League Second Qualifying Round

Notes: Because Besiktas and Bursaspor were banned from international club competitions, for the season 2012-2013, by UEFA, the next teams in the league standings, Eskisehirspor and Istanbul Buyuksehir B., took their spots in the Europa League. All teams above had to play play-offs, for the Champions League and/or Super Lig title (Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Trabzonspor and Besiktas) and for the Europa League (Bursaspor, Eskisehirspor, Istanbul B.B. and Sivasspor).

Galatasaray, Champion with Terim at the Helm

Last season, Galatasaray finished in a very disappointing eighth place.

But Fatih Terim took over, and now they're celebrating their 18th title. (So, Galatasaray is tied, in that regard, with Fenerbahce, as they both have 18 titles won. However, Fenerbahce's last title, last year, could have been stripped away from them, due to the match-fixing investigation, but wasn't.)

Anyway, Fenerbahce attacked more in today's match, but could not find the net. (They had to attack, because a point was enough for the Galata team.)

The biggest chance, in my opinion, came in minute 7, when many fans of Fenerbahce, for sure, had the illusion that the ball went in.

Galatasaray did not play badly, but Muslera, their goalkeeper, was probably their best man on the field.

After the match, seeing how the title was lost, the Fenerbahce fans went berserk.

They started destroying their own stadium, Sukru Saracoglu, by ripping the chairs, throwing them on the pitch, and throwing and crashing whatever else they could.
Fenerbahce did everything right, they attacked, they were a little bit better than Galatasaray on the night, but the only problem was the lack of good luck. For that, they paid and will pay. Literally.

Highlights:

Φενέρμπαχτσε - Γαλατάσαράι 0-0 by buitre9

Video of Fenerbahce fans rioting:


At the end, after the Fener fans were evacuated from the stadium, and they started rioting in the streets, the football officials were able to present the Galatasaray players with the trophy, in a deserted, pitch-black, almost totally silent stadium.
(You gotta wonder why they didn't wait, to do this trophy ceremony in front of a stadium full of Galatasaray fans?!...)

Home Playoff Form... Better?!

No, of course not.
Not for the Turkish leaders.

Galatasaray could not win their third home play-off game, either: 2-2, at home, against Besiktas, with the two goals scored by the guests coming in minutes 86 and 88!

Unbelievable and pathetic!

Still, despite all that, and even though Fenerbahce won today, Galatasaray remains top of the table.
Actually, considering Fenerbahce's win at Trabzonspor, even if Galatasaray had won, Cim Bom would have still had to achieve the same result they have to achieve now, to win the league.
And that is? Well, they have to not lose away to Fenerbahce, in the very last match.

Deja Vu

Remember, on the first and second of February, when Galatasaray again dropped precious points at home (- that time the draw was against Antalyaspor -), first, only to see Fenerbahce respond, the following day, by losing to Samsunspor?

Well, practically the same thing happened yesterday and today.

After Galatasaray drew, at home, 0-0, against Trabzonspor, all Fenerbahce had to do was win to pull even. But they did not win. Just like in February, Fenerbahce lost exactly when they needed to win the most.

Hugo Almeida scored, for Besiktas, on the stroke of half-time, and that was all the scoring on the night.

What a huge break Galatasaray got here!
Very weak from Fenerbahce.

With two matches left, Fenerbahce remains 3 points behind Galatasaray. But the remaining direct encounter between the two teams is scheduled to take place at Fenerbahce's stadium (which I don't know if it's a huge plus for the hosts, considering that Galatasaray seems to be doing way better away from home lately).

Galatasaray in Huge Danger of Losing

Galatasaray again sucked big time, in their second home match of the play-offs.

The first one was a disaster, losing against Fenerbahce, but now, by drawing, 0-0, against Trabzonspor, whom they've beaten just 3 days ago, in Trabzon, Galata is in serious danger of giving up top spot to their fierce rivals.

With only two matches left, Galatasaray better wake up, or they're screwed.

A 9-point lead, gone!

How Pathetic!

Galatasaray dominated the Turkish league this year. They ended the regular season with 9 more points than Fenerbahce. And they started the play-offs well, too, with an away win at Besiktas.
(Also, it should be mentioned that they were able to hold the Fener team, 2-2, on their own stadium, just a few matchdays ago.)

So, it's inexplicable how they could fuck up this game.
But that's exactly what happened.
Fenerbahce won, 2-1, at the Turk Telecom Arena.

Galatasaray played better. They certainly had most of the chances after Ziegler's goal, in the 17th minute. But, at least twice, the ball just would not go in.
After Inan's free-kick equalizer, Galatasaray should have been 2-1 up in a matter of minutes, but Fener goalkeeper Demirel pulled off an amazing point-blank save against Yilmaz's powerful finisher.
And, wouldn't you know it, just a few minutes later, the Galata defense was caught way too advanced, and Stoch punished their inadequate positions.

There was one more header from the home team that could have made a difference, not long after the 80th minute, the minute when Fenerbahce took the lead, but this was a day when everything went badly for Galatasaray.

They still lead in the standings, but Fenerbahce is now only 2 points behind. And Terim's team still has to go to the Kadıköy, on the last matchday. And there are four more matches left, for both teams, including that one.

Highlights: 

Almost Certain

The 18th title in Galatasaray's history seems almost certain now.
They only need one more point from the next three matches to make sure of it.

This is due to the point Gala achieved at the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium, which ensures that Fenerbahce remains 9 points behind, with three matches left.

Fenerbahce started the Turkish derby very strongly, and they were up 2-0 within the first 15 minutes.
Moussa Sow (in minute 10), with an acrobatic goal, and Alex de Souza (15), with an even more spectacular effort from outside the penalty box, made Fenerbahce look like they would win easily.

But the experienced Elmander (36) reduced the deficit, to 1-2 at half-time.

The second half was less exciting.
It almost seemed like 2-1 would be the final score.

But, just 7 minutes before the end of regulation time, Hakan Balta made it 2-2, taking full advantage of a Fenerbahce lapse in concentration.

Both teams could have won the game, after this goal, but it ended 2-2.

Although not a win, this practically ensures that the title is going to go to Galatasaray this year.

Both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce would have 18 titles, but Fenerbahce's 2011 title has been severely tarnished by a match-fixing scandal.

Highlights:

Fenerbahce 2-2 Galatasaray by purururur

The Race Is Practically Over

In Turkey, Galatasaray is very close of being crowned champion.

Like Fenerbahce, they were also able to defeat Besiktas, at home. But, unlike Fenerbahce, Galatasaray did not lose this weekend, so they are now, thanks to the 3-2 victory over The Black Eagles, 9 points ahead at the top of the Turkish standings.

Galatasaray took the lead three times, including the last one, and saw those leads shattered two times, by scrappy goals, the second one of Besiktas even being an own goal, from Semih Kaya (in minute 73).

But Johan Elmander was the hero for Cim Bom Bom. Not only did he score the first goal, in the 15th minute, but he also scored the winning goal in the last minute, just when the game seemed destined to end 2-2.

There are only six matches left for each team, and it seems unlikely that Galatasaray will not win more than one half of the points still on the table.

Highlights:

Galatasaray 3-2 Besiktas by coppoccop

Fenerbahce Out of the Title Race?

I'm not even going to bother to say "Wow, what a surprise!", because probably Fener fans have gotten used to their team losing away from home this year. (Perhaps they have gotten used to losing by the exact scoreline 2-1, too.)

This time, Eskisehirspor beat them, and quite deservedly so.
The team from Eskisehir dominated the first half, and twenty-five minutes of the second one, with authority.

Final score: 2-1 (1-0).

Now, Galatasaray could go 9 points up, if they beat Besiktas, on Sunday.
Not the easiest of games for Galata, but being nine points ahead, with just six matches left, would be like the championship is already wrapped up, so I'm sure Cim Bom Bom will try hard to do well.

Highlights:

End of First Half Sinks Fener

Two defense errors (a back pass and a faulty offside trap) cost Fenerbahce dearly at Karabuk.

Florin Cernat (minute 44) and Birol Hikmet (45 + 2) scored for the home team, right before the half-time whistle.

Although Karabukspor was not to keep a clean sheet in this match, they only conceded one, in minute 67, to a free-kick by Brazilian Alex de Souza. Thus, Fenerbahce was defeated again, and the team from Istanbul finds itself 6 points behind Galatasaray now. And there are only eight matches left.

Highlights:

When No Title Challenger Wins

Has the Turkish league title race turned into a Twilight Zone episode?
Title challengers are losing points left and right lately, there.

On this particular middle-of-the-week matchday, Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas made a grand total of 1 point! Altogether.

Fenerbahce lost at Samsunspor, 3-1, after leading 1-0, while Besiktas lost at home, to Mersin Idmanyurdu, 0-1.
The Greek Gekas scored a natural hat-trick at the Samsun 19 Mayis stadium, to lift his team to victory, while Mersin held on for an entire second half in Istanbul.

Now, thanks to their win at home against Bursaspor, Trabzonspor is 3 points behind Besiktas. Could there be a four-team race? ('Cause I don't suppose Genclerbirligi stands a chance...)

Highlights from Samsunspor - Fenerbahce 3-1:

Samsunspor 3-1 Fenerbahçe by omerzincan

Highlights from Besiktas - Mersin 0-1:

Besiktas 0-1 Mersin by coppoccop

Current standings:

#		Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1		Galatasaray	24	15	6	3	45	17	+28	51p
2		Fenerbahçe	24	14	6	4	39	24	+15	48p
3		Beşiktaş	24	13	6	5	35	23	+12	45p
4		Trabzonspor	24	12	6	6	43	26	+17	42p
5		Gençlerbirliği	24	11	7	6	35	28	+7	40p

So Much Hard Work to Be Wasted

Galatasaray fans must be furious.
Their team proved today why concentration in every game is so important. By not being able to win against Antalyaspor, at home.
Twenty-two matches to build up some breathing space at the top of the standings, and two to blow it all!

So, from being 5 points up on Fenerbahce, they could now be level with their rivals tomorrow. (Fenerbahce plays at Samsunspor then.)

This is just pathetic from Fatih Terim & co.

And they needed a Felipe-Melo penalty to tie the game, too. Final score: 1-1.

You would expect this kind of lack of professionalism from a weak, unproven title contender, like Manchester City, Udinese, Montpellier, Alkmaar, and so on. But not from a perennial football giant like Galatasaray.
Shame!

#		Team	MP	W	D	L	F	A	D	P
1		Galatasaray	24	15	6	3	45	17	+28	51p
2		Fenerbahçe	23	14	6	3	38	21	+17	48p
3		Beşiktaş	23	13	6	4	35	22	+13	45p
4		Trabzonspor	24	12	6	6	43	26	+17	42p
5		Gençlerbirliği	24	11	7	6	35	28	+7	40p

Third Loss for Galatasaray

Galatasaray lost a great chunk of a hard earned advantage over second-ranked Fenerbahce, by losing away to 2009-2010 champions Bursaspor.

When Bursaspor played Fenerbahce at home, they lost 0-2.

The 2010-2011 top-of-the-table team can now get within two points of Cim Bom Bom, if they beat Mersin Idmanyurdu at home, on Sunday.

Besiktas Istanbul can also match Fenerbahce's total, but they play away, at Kayserispor.

The goal:

Bursa 1-0 Galatasaray by coppoccop

Fenerbahce Loses in Istanbul

...Okay, they didn't lose on the home field, but they did lose in Istanbul. Buyuksehir defeated the Fener team 3-2 today, leaving Galatasaray the chance to open up a five-point gap at the top.

Istanbul BB (Buyuksehir) led for most of the game, too, and they were even up 3-1 until minute 89.

Highlights: