Galatasaray advance in UEFA Cup
Hertha Berlin 0-1 Galatasaray.
Galatasaray advanced to the last 32 of the UEFA Cup as Milan Baros scored the only goal at Hertha Berlin.
Baros converted a penalty in the 69th minute to give the Turkish side nine points from four games in Group B.
Hertha, who were playing in front of an estimated 40,000 Turkish fans at their home Olympic Stadium, remained on two points from three matches but can still advance if they win at Olympiacos in a fortnight.
Hertha had the first real chance of the game in the fifth minute as Raffael played in Marko Pantelic, who worked past Sabri Sarioglu and got a fine shot on goal, but Morgan de Sanctis was perfectly placed.
The Turks began taking over the game, with Lincoln influential.
The former Schalke playmaker struck dangerously from 20 yards but Hertha keeper Jaroslav Drobny parried the ball over his crossbar.
Lincoln again sent a fine blast on goal four minutes later from 22 yards but again could not beat Drobny, who dove to his right and fisted Lincoln's shot away with his left hand.
It was again Lincoln versus Drobny after 40 minutes and once again the Berlin stopper kept out the Galatasaray midfielder's long shot.
And Drobny was again in fine form just before the break, stopping Baros from 16 yards.
Berlin were better in the second half and missed a golden chance to grab the lead on the hour mark as Andriy Voronin and Pantelic both failed to make the most of a two-on-one situation.
Six minutes later, Gojko Kacar's 24-yard blast was fended away by De Sanctis.
And the Turks made Hertha pay for not converting with a penalty on 69 minutes. Steve von Bergen handled Harry Kewell's cross in the area and Baros stepped up to the spot, beating Drobny in the right corner.
De Sanctis tipped Josip Simunic's header over his crossbar after 74 minutes and then defender Servet Cetin kept out Kacar's shot.
Three minutes later, Valeri Domovchiyski worked his way through the Galatasaray defence but couldn't get shot on goal from four yards out.
Hertha pushed forward looking for the equaliser and had a series of good opportunities but could not get a decent shot on goal.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Hertha Berlin v Galatasaray ....Preview
Galatasaray will be heading to Berlin looking to do what they failed to manage last week at home to Metalist Kharkiv.
The Turkish giants, coached by German Michael Skibbe, still need a point to guarantee their place in the last 32 after following up victories in their opening two games with a 1-0 loss to the Ukrainians.
But midfielder Lincoln warned the 2000 UEFA Cup winners cannot afford to sit back and play for a draw.
"Hertha are strong. We have to be wide awake and not just concentrate on defending,'' the former Schalke man said in Kicker.
Galatasaray needs a point to advance to the round of 32 when the two sides meet Wednesday in the UEFA Cup.
Galatasaray will feel at home in Berlin's Olympic stadium, with tens of thousands of tickets going to Turks living in Germany.
Skibbe will be without a host of players, including Hasan Sas, Serkan Calik, Ugur Ucar and Tobias Linderoth.
Ayhan Akman is also suspended for the match.
Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic insists he is not bothered if he is again asked the play the role of super-sub in tomorrow's UEFA Cup clash at home to Galatasaray.
The Serbia international came off the bench to net a late winner against Cologne last Friday as Lucien Favre's men strengthened their surprise bid for the Bundesliga title.
Pantelic had been reportedly unhappy with his treatment by Favre, who has left him out of the starting line-up for the last three games, but the pair now appear to have put aside any differences.
Asked if he was worrying about whether he would get to start or have to make do with a place on the bench again against the Turks, the 30-year-old told the Berliner Kurier: "It is totally unimportant. This is a final for us. We can only win it as a team - and we are a team.
"There is a really good atmosphere in the dressing room. Everyone can work with everyone. Old and young players have to grow together. That is the reason why we are so successful on the pitch at the moment.''
The capital club are indeed enjoying a fine run, having won their last four games in the league to climb to third.
They have, though, yet to win in UEFA Cup Group B, with two draws from their opening two games.
Pantelic has scored their only goal in the competition so far, again coming off the bench to grab the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Benfica, and victory tomorrow looks a necessity if they are to make the knockout stages.
Hertha lie second bottom of the group and have a tough-looking trip to Greece to face Olympiacos - 5-1 winners over Benfica in their last game - to come in the final match.
Whether Pantelic starts is likely to depend on the fitness of fellow frontman Andriy Voronin, who is battling a bout of flu.
The on-loan Liverpool forward said: "I feel quite weak and because of the doping regulations was not allowed to take any medication. But I will battle through.''
Midfielder Maximilian Nicu is definitely out because of a gastro-intestinal infection.
The Turkish giants, coached by German Michael Skibbe, still need a point to guarantee their place in the last 32 after following up victories in their opening two games with a 1-0 loss to the Ukrainians.
But midfielder Lincoln warned the 2000 UEFA Cup winners cannot afford to sit back and play for a draw.
"Hertha are strong. We have to be wide awake and not just concentrate on defending,'' the former Schalke man said in Kicker.
Galatasaray needs a point to advance to the round of 32 when the two sides meet Wednesday in the UEFA Cup.
Galatasaray will feel at home in Berlin's Olympic stadium, with tens of thousands of tickets going to Turks living in Germany.
Skibbe will be without a host of players, including Hasan Sas, Serkan Calik, Ugur Ucar and Tobias Linderoth.
Ayhan Akman is also suspended for the match.
Hertha Berlin striker Marko Pantelic insists he is not bothered if he is again asked the play the role of super-sub in tomorrow's UEFA Cup clash at home to Galatasaray.
The Serbia international came off the bench to net a late winner against Cologne last Friday as Lucien Favre's men strengthened their surprise bid for the Bundesliga title.
Pantelic had been reportedly unhappy with his treatment by Favre, who has left him out of the starting line-up for the last three games, but the pair now appear to have put aside any differences.
Asked if he was worrying about whether he would get to start or have to make do with a place on the bench again against the Turks, the 30-year-old told the Berliner Kurier: "It is totally unimportant. This is a final for us. We can only win it as a team - and we are a team.
"There is a really good atmosphere in the dressing room. Everyone can work with everyone. Old and young players have to grow together. That is the reason why we are so successful on the pitch at the moment.''
The capital club are indeed enjoying a fine run, having won their last four games in the league to climb to third.
They have, though, yet to win in UEFA Cup Group B, with two draws from their opening two games.
Pantelic has scored their only goal in the competition so far, again coming off the bench to grab the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Benfica, and victory tomorrow looks a necessity if they are to make the knockout stages.
Hertha lie second bottom of the group and have a tough-looking trip to Greece to face Olympiacos - 5-1 winners over Benfica in their last game - to come in the final match.
Whether Pantelic starts is likely to depend on the fitness of fellow frontman Andriy Voronin, who is battling a bout of flu.
The on-loan Liverpool forward said: "I feel quite weak and because of the doping regulations was not allowed to take any medication. But I will battle through.''
Midfielder Maximilian Nicu is definitely out because of a gastro-intestinal infection.
UEFA CUP 2009 FINAL ISTANBUL LOGO UNVEILED!...
Turkish Football(soccer) Federation unveiled the new logo for UEFA CUP Finals 2009 which will be played at Fenerbahce's Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on May 20th of 2009.
The special event took place in Istanbul Süreyya Opera House to announce the new logo on Tuesday with a large attendance from UEFA and Turkish officials.
Turkish Football(soccer) Association (TFF) President Mahmut Ozgener said,"We feel proud because we can make the name of our city and country heard," "I believe this final will open the door for Turkey to host some bigger events, such as the UEFA European Championship. Our aim is to see at least one Turkish team in the final."
The only Turkish member in the UEFA organization, Senes Erzik, also talked about how he was excited about having the finals in Istanbul , UEFA vice-President and honorary TFF President,Senez Erzik said, "I am excited and proud. Istanbul has learned from past experiences like the UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan in 2005. I can assure people coming to the final that they will received a traditional Turkish welcome next May."
Tickets will go on sale from Friday at 12.00 Local Turkey time and end at the same time on 23 January of 2009. Fans in Turkey will be able to purchase a maximum of two tickets, with prices ranging from €75 to €130.
ROBERTO CARLOS WAS THERE TOO!....
Fenerbahce's Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos poses with the logo of the UEFA Cup Final 2009 during a presentation in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. The UEFA Cup 2009 Final will take place at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul in May 20, 2009.(AP)
FORMER GALATASARAY CAPTAIN BULENT KORKMAZ WAS ALSO THERE........
Former Galatasaray captain Bulent Korkmaz, left, and Fenerbahce's Brazilian soccer star Roberto Carlos pose with a symbolic match ticket of the UEFA Cup Final 2009 during a presentation in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008. The UEFA Cup 2009 Final will take place at Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul in May 20, 2009.(AP)
AHMET TURGUT
Monday, December 1, 2008
TURKISH-AMERICAN YOUTH,’ "SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR" IN NEW YORK...
According to report from FiveBoroSports , Turkish-American Youth , Cemil Turan was choosing the "Player of the Year" in the High School competition in the Staten Island.
Cemil Turan who plays for St. Peters High School, scored 29 goals in the league wants to play in Turkey according the report.
Also,, another Turkish-American youth player Kemal Gurel, who plays for New Dorp High School made it to "ALL-STATEN ISLAND FIRST TEAM "
I just hope , Turkish Football(soccer) national team coach Fatih Terim will turn his eyes to the Turkish- American youth who are getting really good training her in the United States.
I wonder how many of kids like Cemil Turan, who are playing youth level football(soccer) in the United states....
Please respond, if you are current youth players playing in the youth level (ages 6 to 18) in the United States and Canada.
Drop a line to me,please...
contact@turkishsoccer.net
AHMET TURGUT
Sunday, November 30, 2008
GUTSY GRANDPA ARAGONES BEAT MUSTAFA DENIZLI'S BESIKTAS
Fenerbahce's Spanish coach Luis Aragones talks to his Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos during their Turkish Super League derby soccer match against Besiktas at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008. Fenerbahce won the match 2-1.(AP)
Call it luck ....call it Gutsy.......
The match of the week in the week 13, in the Turkcell Super League was the most important match of the week.......
As I wrote in my previous article, Fenerbahce was done in the Champions League, after losing against Porto at home on Tuesday....
I said, they were going to be ready for this match, if they were going to stay the course in the league...
This was the match they had to win....
The whole world knew this, accept,Besiktas's humble coach Mustafa Denizli!...
If he knew, a win would make him the top team in the league! ......
He would play differently.....
Instead, he was going for a draw ..........
He started the match with Nobre on top while guys like Bobbo, Holosko, and set play master Tello were with him on the bench!.....
I wrote it before the match.......
I said, both keeper have to have flawless match.....
Well, Volkan did, but Besiktas keeper Rustu did not........
In the 11th minute of the match on a corner kick , Selcuk Sahin scored the exactly same goal that he score against Galatasaray.
The stupid defense and Rustu Rechber made a huge mistake, on this goal....
Nobre evened things up for Besiktas in the 21st, but, another stupid mistake cost the second goal on a brake away , and Spanish International player Guiza scored the Fener's second goal in the 27 minute of the match.......
In the 41th minute. after Cisse getting his second yellow card, Besiktas was left with one man short on the field....
When every one thought , at the half, Holosko, who was warming up, was going in to the match .....
But, it was changed in the last second by Mustafa Denizli!.........
He decided not to inject any player until 20 minutes remaining of the match......
While grandpa Aragones was sending fresh players on the field, Besiktas's Mustafa Denizli was day dreaming from the sideline !....
The fear and wrong tactics cost the Besiktas this match........
A player like Holosko who scored a goal and made a assist ,one week before, had to start this match...
He was the only guy that will brake the Fenerbahce defense from the center.....
We all saw Young Serdar Ozkan did in the first half of the match.......
He had a lot of miss hits and wide shots...........
At the end Besiktas loss this match because of Denizli's mistakes..
There is no ifs or buts about it!......
With this 2-1 win, Fenerbahce, back in this race for the first time this season..
Thanks to Mustafa Denizli................
AHMET TURGUT
TURKISH TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE WEEK 13,RESULTS
Friday Nov 28, 2008 Kayserispor 1- 1 Trabzonspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 BB Ankaraspor 0- 1 MKE Ankaragücü
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Sivasspor 3 - 0 Gaziantepspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Eskisehirspor 4- 3 Denizlispor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Fenerbahce 2- 1 Besiktas
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Bursaspor 1-1 Antalyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Genclerbirligi 0-0 Istanbul BB
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Kocaelispor 3 -0 Konyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Galatasaray 3- 1 Hacettepe
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 BB Ankaraspor 0- 1 MKE Ankaragücü
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Sivasspor 3 - 0 Gaziantepspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Eskisehirspor 4- 3 Denizlispor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Fenerbahce 2- 1 Besiktas
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Bursaspor 1-1 Antalyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Genclerbirligi 0-0 Istanbul BB
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Kocaelispor 3 -0 Konyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Galatasaray 3- 1 Hacettepe
Friday, November 28, 2008
WEEK 13, AT THE TURKISH TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE
The week 13, will take a start on Friday in Kayseri.
The top team of Turkish Turkcell Super league Trabzonspor will have another hurdle in the week 13.
They will face a rough and though team Kayserispor in Kayseri.
This is the only match on Friday.
Three week to go to the end of the first half of the league, Trabzonspor could extend the lead with a win in Kayseri. Again, a draw, will probably knock them, out of the top spot.
That will give, second place team Besiktas, who is two points behind, a morale boost, before the derby match, against Fenerbahce on Saturday.
On the other hand, Kayserispor really struggling as far as scoring goals...
After Gokhan Unal left the team to go to Trabzonspor, Kayserispor has a problem scoring!...
In the 12 matches they scored only eleven goals.....
But, Kayserispor defense has only allowed six goals in 12 matches.
"GAME OF THE WEEK"
The biggest match of the week will take place on Saturday between Fenerbahce and Besiktas.
Besiktas who is ahead of Fenerbahce in the League will face Fenerbahce in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Fenerbahce after saying farewell to Champions League on Tuesday , now have to turn their attention back to the league.....
If we look at the last six weeks in the league Fenerbahce is better form than Besiktas. out of six matches Fener collected 14 points while Besiktas collected only 11 points. Fenerbahce leads the league form table in the last six weeks.
In this form table we see Ankaraspor second place and Istanbul Buyuksehir on Third place !...........
Warning to the teams that will play these teams this weekend!......
Getting back to , the Game of the week match.....
Rustu Rechber will face his former team in Besiktas goal for the first time!...
On the other hand Fenerbahce Keeper Volkan Demirel having problem handling the ball!...
The Keepers will have to have a flawless match on Saturday...
The mistakes by keepers will result out come of this match....
Lastly, looking at both teams rosters , Besiktas has better players.....
But, Fenerbahce have, Guiza, Carlos Alberto who are world known players....
Who ever takes the control at the midfield will win this match....
So, Alex for Fenerbshce and Delgado for Besiktas in the midfield will be big factors in this match.......
On top. Besiktas has better front attackers........
If Fenerbahce uses Guiza like a striker , he will cash in for Fenerbahce!...
This is not the only important match on Saturday......
The third place team Ankaraspor and forth place team Sivaspor will play on Saturday in a day matches..........
Before the Saturday Night match, Ankarspor could capture the second place from Besiktas before Besiktas even takes the field on Saturday against Fenerbahce.
Ankaraspor will play at home against ailing Ankaragucu and Sivaspor will also be at home against Gaziantepspor .
So, Leagues most important matches will take on Friday and Saturday in the week 13! ......
Here is the week 13 matches........
Friday Nov 28, 2008 Kayserispor Trabzonspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 BB Ankaraspor MKE Ankaragücü
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Sivasspor Gaziantepspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Eskisehirspor Denizlispor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Fenerbahce SK Besiktas JK
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Bursaspor Antalyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Genclerbirligi SK Istanbul BB
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Kocaelispor Konyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Galatasaray SK Hacettepe SK
AHMET TURGUT
The top team of Turkish Turkcell Super league Trabzonspor will have another hurdle in the week 13.
They will face a rough and though team Kayserispor in Kayseri.
This is the only match on Friday.
Three week to go to the end of the first half of the league, Trabzonspor could extend the lead with a win in Kayseri. Again, a draw, will probably knock them, out of the top spot.
That will give, second place team Besiktas, who is two points behind, a morale boost, before the derby match, against Fenerbahce on Saturday.
On the other hand, Kayserispor really struggling as far as scoring goals...
After Gokhan Unal left the team to go to Trabzonspor, Kayserispor has a problem scoring!...
In the 12 matches they scored only eleven goals.....
But, Kayserispor defense has only allowed six goals in 12 matches.
"GAME OF THE WEEK"
The biggest match of the week will take place on Saturday between Fenerbahce and Besiktas.
Besiktas who is ahead of Fenerbahce in the League will face Fenerbahce in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.
Fenerbahce after saying farewell to Champions League on Tuesday , now have to turn their attention back to the league.....
If we look at the last six weeks in the league Fenerbahce is better form than Besiktas. out of six matches Fener collected 14 points while Besiktas collected only 11 points. Fenerbahce leads the league form table in the last six weeks.
In this form table we see Ankaraspor second place and Istanbul Buyuksehir on Third place !...........
Warning to the teams that will play these teams this weekend!......
Getting back to , the Game of the week match.....
Rustu Rechber will face his former team in Besiktas goal for the first time!...
On the other hand Fenerbahce Keeper Volkan Demirel having problem handling the ball!...
The Keepers will have to have a flawless match on Saturday...
The mistakes by keepers will result out come of this match....
Lastly, looking at both teams rosters , Besiktas has better players.....
But, Fenerbahce have, Guiza, Carlos Alberto who are world known players....
Who ever takes the control at the midfield will win this match....
So, Alex for Fenerbshce and Delgado for Besiktas in the midfield will be big factors in this match.......
On top. Besiktas has better front attackers........
If Fenerbahce uses Guiza like a striker , he will cash in for Fenerbahce!...
This is not the only important match on Saturday......
The third place team Ankaraspor and forth place team Sivaspor will play on Saturday in a day matches..........
Before the Saturday Night match, Ankarspor could capture the second place from Besiktas before Besiktas even takes the field on Saturday against Fenerbahce.
Ankaraspor will play at home against ailing Ankaragucu and Sivaspor will also be at home against Gaziantepspor .
So, Leagues most important matches will take on Friday and Saturday in the week 13! ......
Here is the week 13 matches........
Friday Nov 28, 2008 Kayserispor Trabzonspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 BB Ankaraspor MKE Ankaragücü
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Sivasspor Gaziantepspor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Eskisehirspor Denizlispor
Saturday Nov 29, 2008 Fenerbahce SK Besiktas JK
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Bursaspor Antalyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Genclerbirligi SK Istanbul BB
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Kocaelispor Konyaspor
Sunday Nov 30, 2008 Galatasaray SK Hacettepe SK
AHMET TURGUT
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