WHAT A FINISH BY GALATASARAY!....

Sabri Sarioglu slammed home a last-minute winner to earn Galatasaray a place in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup at the expense of Bordeaux.

Galatasaray looked like they were going out on away goals when Bordeaux scored twice in the space of a minute, through Marouane Chamakh and Fernando Cavenaghi, to draw level at 3-3 with a quarter of an hour remaining.
But Turkey full-back Sabri smashed a low 20-yard shot into the corner with seconds remaining to settle an amazing end-to-end tie.

The game had started at breakneck speed, David Bellion opening the scoring after just 11 seconds for Les Girondins, but Gala recovered superbly and goals by Arda Turan (two) and Harry Kewell saw them take the whip hand.
It was a sensational way for new coach Bulent Korkmaz to begin his spell in charge of Galatasaray, but his reign could hardly have got off to a worse start.

From the kick-off, the ball was played back to Diego Placente, who hoofed a long clearance upfield. The ball slid past Fernando Meira, allowing Bellion to race onto it and slip a low finish past the advancing Morgan De Sanctis.
Fortune was not favouring Korkmaz - in the 12th minute, Bordeaux centre-back Souleymane Diawara hooked a cross from Arda onto his own bar and soon after, Galatasaray's key midfielder Mehmet Topal trudged off with a hand injury.

The tide turned in the space of three minutes at the end of the half.
Turan equalised in the 42nd minute when he ran onto Milan Baros' lay-off and lashed home a shot from 15 yards.
The home crowd were still celebrating when Kewell, who had come on as a substitute for Topal, picked up a ball 25 yards out and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Galatasaray took control of the match thereafter and Lincoln sidefooted wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy on the hour mark.

The tricky forward made amends in the 65th minute, cutting in from the left and crossing for Arda to tap in from two yards.

The match looked over but Chamakh reduced the deficit in the 74th minute by running onto Cavenaghi's cute through-ball and sidefooting home.

Barely a minute later, De Sanctis dropped a cross and in the ensuing scramble, the ball fell at the feet of Cavenaghi, who had the simple task of tapping into an empty net.

But there was a final twist in the tail when Sabri scored a terrific winner after Bordeaux only weakly cleared a corner.

ESPN.COM: "TURKEY'S NEW FORCE?..Sivasspor upsetting the order

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Bulent 'The Soldier' Uygun has led the club up the league.

The historical hierarchy of Turkish football has rarely been called into question, but this season something has changed. Sivasspor's humiliation of the reigning champions Galatasaray in their recent cup games and a meteoric rise to the top of league suggests that, unexpectedly, they could become only the fifth club ever to win the Super Lig title.


While Besiktas (in the early 90s) and Trabzonspor (in the late 70s/early 80s) have offered resistance to the dominance of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in the past, 2008/09 has seen a new force arrive in the championship race.

In the top flight since 2005, Sivasspor have not simply sprung out of nowhere, having finished 3rd in last year's campaign, but the scale of their rise has surprised many. Some dominant home form at the beginning of the season - where they have won ten of their eleven games thus far, conceding just four goals - is the key. They have made a name for themselves, not by playing the best football, but forging a winning mentality.

A number of clubs have given notice of their potential in the past, threatening to cause an upset in the title chase, but have often been found wanting towards the end of the season. Sivasspor, simply by virtue of their fighting attitude, appear different and could be set to destroy the established Turkish order if they can hold out until May.

As unfashionable as they are, no-one can query the standard of Sivas' performances this season. Backed by a hostile home environment which sees opponents arrive to face -10°C temperatures (up to -20°C if you include wind-chill factor), they rely on speedy counter-attacking and a strong desire to battle hard. A philosophy which has already seen them upset both Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe at home this season.

Pulling the strings is former Fenerbahçe captain Bulent 'The Soldier' Uygun, who was famous for his 'soldier salute' goal celebration during his playing days and began his sporting career as a wrestler. The 36-year-old manager claims to have learnt from Carlos Alberto Parreira, the Brazilian manager who masterminded his country's uncharacteristic 1994 World Cup triumph and managed Fener in 1995/96. Uygun has turned the club into genuine title contenders.

Still learning his trade, Uygun took over in early 2007 with the club rooted to the bottom of the league and led them to 7th place. He then won the 2007/08 Manager of the Year award for getting the club to 3rd position the following season and has instilled a corinthian spirit into his squad, with teamwork the priority. He has a tightly knit group of players with which to work and is backed by a strong boardroom, led by President Mecnun Odyakmaz who has said in the past: "Money is not a major concern. We are a brotherhood."

It's a good thing that money isn't important, because Sivasspor are not blessed financially. Already suffering from the fact that Turkish television only shows matches featuring the big four (Besiktas, Fener, Galatasaray and Trabzon), the club have been built on a platform of mediocrity, not wealth.

Picking up players deemed not good enough for the bigger teams, Sivas have recruited well, but without spending a vast amount of money. Their squad looks average in terms of talent, but that has been to their benefit when it comes to keeping their best performing players. Announcing that they were willing to listen to offers for star Mehmet Yildiz recently, the club were unable to raise any interest and Yildiz has gone on to net 11 goals in 19 starts in propelling the club to the top of the league.

In January, Mahmut Hanefi and Onur Tuncer joined from Fener and, with no real stars in the squad, Sivas are able to focus their attentions on their football. Israeli striker Pini Balili has returned from injury, French import Yannick Kamanan has impressed when given the chance and the club are riding on a wave of confidence in a bid to overcome the odds and finish strongly.

Balili recently wore a t-shirt with the words: ''Nothing happens through coincidence'' imprinted on it, while celebrating his side's Turkish cup win over Galatasaray, and he may be right. The league table cannot be argued with and, while these underdogs continue to improve, it is the reigning champions who have been hit hardest by their rise.

''It's high time we come to terms with the reality of Sivas,'' said Galatasaray keeper Aykut Erçetin after his team's cup defeat. But they haven't and even parted company with German coach Michael Skibbe last week, replacing him with 40-year-old club icon Bulent Korkmaz.

The upheaval surrounding the appointment - reports in Turkey had suggested that the club had offered the job to Gheorghe Hagi, only to be rejected - may hurt the champions in the short-term but it was necessary as the Turkish giants had failed to monitor the rise of the Anatolian club. Something had to change.

Two defeats and one draw against them in an 11-day period at the end of January set the wheels in motion, although the last straw came from a humiliating 5-2 defeat by minnows Kocaelispor at the 'Lions Den' a month later.

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Skibbe was sacked as Galatasaray boss after a poor run.


While Skibbe admitted blame for Galatasaray's freefall, claiming that he was ''unable to establish a solid defensive formation,'' his position cannot have been helped by the mountain of praise being heaped on Sivas. Fifth in the league and eight points behind the surprise leaders, Galatasaray fans expect better after a history of success, although some will tip their hats to Uygun's men for what they have achieved already.

Many in the Turkish media have dismissed Uygun's side as another flash in the pan and backed Galatasaray to come back strongly, but only the second half of the season will determine whether or not Sivas can complete their meteoric rise by winning the title. The general feeling is that they will fall away, as Vestel Manisaspor did in 2006/07, but there is also an increasing acknowledgement that this might be the year things change.

Sivas can begin to win over the critics with a win over Fenerbahce at the famous Sükrü Saracoglu this weekend, while Galatasaray host the club on the final day of the Turkish season. By then, however, it may already be too late to stop them.

By Jon Carter
www.soccernet.com writer
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=622044&sec=europe&root=europe&cc=5901

TUNCAY SANLI LIFTS BORO IN THE FA CUP!...

Tuncay Sanli lifted Middlesbrough from the gloom of their Premier League survival scrap by firing the Teesiders into the last eight of the FA Cup on Wednesday.

Tuncay's 20th-minute volley sealed a 2-0 win over West Ham after England midfielder Stewart Downing had given Boro an early lead in the 5th round replay at the Riverside.

Boro's reward was a quarter-final trip to Everton and the outcome was never really in doubt against opponents who failed to live up to their recent form in the Premier League.

Downing got Boro off to the perfect start with a superbly struck free-kick and Tuncay effectively settled the contest when centreback James Tomkins hooked a clearance into his path.

Tuncay, who had not scored since the first week of December, controlled his volley superbly to beat Robert Green in the West Ham goal and there was to be no way back for the visitors

Galatasaray to play with France's Bordeaux on Thursday!

Galatasaray will play an UEFA Cup third round match with the Girondins De Bordeaux team of France in Istanbul on Thursday.



The French team is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday evening.



Galatasaray drew with Bordeaux 0-0 in its away match on February 18.



Laurent Blanc, the coach of Girondins De Bordeaux, and Galatasaray's coach Bulent Korkmaz are expected to hold press conferences on Wednesday.

Galatasaray signs 2.5-year contract with Bulent Korkmaz

Galatasaray soccer club, champion of last year's Turkish Turkcell Super league, officially signed an contract with Bulent Korkmaz.



The 2.5-year contract includes an option for another year.



The 40-year-old new coach replaced Michael Skibbe, who was dismissed after last week's defeat against Kocaelispor.



Korkmaz, who was a defender and captain of the Galatasaray, became the 52nd coach Galatasaray.

BULENT KORKMAZ HIRED AS INTERIM COACH FOR GALATASARAY!...

CHAOS IN GALATASARAY!.....



After the disaster score on Sunday night in Ali Samiyen , we knew Skibbe was out of the door...



But, what is so interesting is, that night, They offered the job for 13 weeks to former Galatasaray coach who was watching the disaster match Romanian Hagi ,first.



After he declined the offer , Galatasaray went to former team captain Bulent Korkmaz...



And Bulent Korkmaz agreed to be the interim coach for Galatasaray team .



Bulent Korkmaz who had a very short spell unsuccessfully coaching in the Turkish Turkcell Super League with Kayseri Erciyesspor and Genclerbirligi .



I think, he is not ready to take a giant step to coach Galatasaray team ,in my opinion...



He will have to report to Karl-Heinz Feldkamp who sit on top of the Galatasaray coaching department.





The chaos has just began and will go on in the Galatasaray team, in my opinion....
]

AHMET TURGUT
www.turkishsoccer.com

GALATASARAY FIRES COACH SKIBBE!..

AS I PREDICTED ON SUNDAY,GALATASARAY FIRES COACH SKIBBE!..

Yes, someone has paid the price for the horror score on Sunday..........

But is he the whole problem in the Galatasaray team?...

He is the part of the problem not the whole problem!...........

I think, some of the foreign player on Galatasaray team have to look at the mirror too!...
So, Galatasaray sacked coach Michael Skibbe on Monday a day after losing 5-2 to a last place team Kocaelispor in the Turkish Turkcell Super league.

After drawing French team Bordo in the UEFA Cup match in France on this past Wednesday.

AHMET TURGUT
WWW.TURKISHSOCCER.COM