WEEK 31TH REVIEW
Fenerbahce close in on title with Besiktas win
Fenerbahce won Turkey's table-topping clash on Saturday as a goal by Mateja Kezman was enough for a 1-0 win at Besiktas that opened a five point lead over their opponents with three games remaining. Serbian striker Kezman struck in the 12th minute of the heated derby at Besiktas's Inonu stadium, played amid heavy security. Besiktas ended with 10 men as Ibrahim Toraman was shown a red card in the 82nd minute for a tackle which left Serkan Balci with a bloody nose. The win left Fenerbahce on 63 points, five points clear of Besiktas and well placed to secure their 17th title. Last year's champions Galatasaray are third with 55 points.Saturday's victory was also some revenge for Fenerbahce after Besiktas knocked knocked them out of the Turkish Cup in the semi-finals.
Kayserispor remain fourth in the standings after losing 1-0 at Manisaspor.
Hakan Kadir Balta (84) scored the only goal late on to send his team into ninth place, ahead of Ankaragucu, who were 1-0 winners at home to Sakaryaspor.Gustan Bebbe (73) was the hero for Ankar, while an 18th defeat for the visitors leaves them rock bottom and all but relegated.At the Antep Kamil Ocak stadium, Gaziantepspor slipped to a 2-0 defeat to Ankaraspor and remain in the danger zone.Goals in each half from Ozer Hurmaci (39) and Murat Tosun (58) sent their team up to sixth, while the hosts remain on 36 points, level with Caykur Rizespor, who hold the final relegation spot despite earning a point at Erciyesspor.With both teams in trouble, both coaches would have preferred all three points, which at one stage looked to be heading towards the home team after Zdravko Lazarov (28) fired them into a first-half lead.That advantage lasted until the final minute when substitute Hassan Eyyup Ugur (90) equalised to ensure his team left with a point.
Elsewhere, Denizlispor improved their survival hopes with a goalless draw at home to Bursaspor, while Konyaspor staged a dramatic comeback to secure all the points at home to Genclerbirligi.Isaac Promise (66) had the fired the visitors ahead shortly after the hour mark, but the hosts hit back through Cedric Sabin (74) and Erkan Sekman (90) scored a late winner to claim all the spoils and move Konyaspor up to seventh.
Galatasaray held at home
Galatasaray have failed to close the gap on the top two in Turkcell Super League after they could only draw 1-1 at home with Antalyaspor.Galatasaray were behind after only 12 minutes when Ahmet Dursun scored for Antalyaspor.However, Cameroon defender Rigobert Song equalised for the home side in the 69th minute.The result means that Galatasaray stay in third, three points behind second-placed Besiktas and eight points behind leaders Fenerbahce
Trabzonspor win
Trabzonspor have consolidated fifth spot in the Turkcell Super League with a 2-0 victory over Sivasspor.Umut Bulut opened the scoring for the hosts after 38 minutes, and substitute Mustafa Keceli made sure of the points four minutes from time.The win sees Trabzonspor move seven points clear of sixth-placed Sivasspor with three games remaining.