BAD START FOR GALATASARAY!.......

NONDA SAVES GALATASARAY IN ISTANBUL



Shabani Nonda of Galatasaray celebrates his goal against Steaua Bucharest during their Champions League third qualifying round first leg soccer match at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul August 13, 2008.
Photo:REUTERS/Osman Orsal (TURKEY)



Galatasaray cameback from two goals down to salvage a home draw with FC Steaua Bucharest in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie.



Galatasaray drew 2-2 with Steaua Bucharest of Romania in the first leg match of the European Champions League third qualifying round played in Istanbul on Wednesday.



Steaua looked on course to take a lead back to Romania in a fortnight when Dairo Moreno and Banel Nicolita struck in a first 12 minutes.



Galatasaray's Shabani Nonda quickly pulled one back, however, and his second goal just after half-time ensured there will be all to play for in Bucharest.



The home side were deprived the services of Harry Kewell, Tobias Linderoth and Umit Karan through injury and were behind in the fourth minute.



Aykut's goal kick fell to Moreno and the Colombian entered the box and calmly beat the keeper.



Eight minutes later a Steaua throw-in was picked up by Nicolita five metres from goal and his powerful shot doubled the lead.



Despite those setbacks the 20,000 home fans continued to support their team and were given hope on 18 minutes when Nonda struck from close range.



An equaliser nearly arrived not long before the break when Arda Turan found Nonda but Robinson Zapata made a fine reflex save.



Two minutes into the second half an Arda cross from the left was headed in by the Congolese striker.



Now the pressure was on Steaua to hold out and they did so with some comfort despite the introduction of Barıs Ozbek and Sabri Sarıoglu.



Galatasaray, meanwhile, will hope the return of injured players in a fortnight inspires them to the group stage.



Stadium: Ali Sami Yen



Referees: Laurent Duhamel, Stephane Duhamel, Laurent Ugo (France)



Galatasaray: Aykut, Emre Gungor (Sabri), Emre Asik, Servet, Hakan Balta, Meira, Hasan (Erhan), Mehmet Topal (Baris), Arda, Lincoln, Nonda



Steaua Bucharest: Zapata, Golanski (Nesu), Goian, Radoi, Marin, Nicolita, Petre (Ghionea), Lovin, Toja (Gomes), Bernhardt, Moreno



Scorers: Moreno, Nicolita (Steaua Bucharest), Nonda (Galatasaray)

ANNUAL AUGUST TURKISH SOCCER TOURNAMENT IN NEW JERSEY

The only Turkish soccer Tournament in the United States , will take place in New Jersey on August 31Th 2008.

Istanbulspor soccer club in New jersey will host this Annual Turkish soccer tournament.

There will be 24 teams in the tournament.

The Turkish- American teams from New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto and New Jersey will play for "Annual 30Th AUGUST" Trophy.

For more information you could visit the link below.

http://www.istanbulspor.net/index.html

Fenerbahce against Partizan

Turkcell Super League team Fenerbahce will play against Serbia's Partizan on Wednesday in the first leg of third qualifying round of European Champions League.

Istanbul side are struggling to compete in the Champions League for the sixth time.

Fenerbahce eliminated Hungary's MTK Budapest in the second qualifying round.

Galatasaray takes on S. Bucharest

Turkish Soccer Club Galatasaray will play against Romania's Steaua Bucharest in the third qualifying round of European Champions League.

Galatasaray wants to take the upper hand in Wednesday's game with an advantageous score before the return match away in Bucharest.

Laurent Duhamel from French Football Federation will referee the game which will begin at 21:15 local time(2:45 ET) in Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul.

Kezman loaned to PSG say reports, Fenerbahce deny

French first division club Paris St Germain have agreed terms with Fenerbahce over a loan deal for Serbian star Mateja Kezman, a source close to the French club said on Thursday, though the Turkish club has denied it.

The Paris club will reportedly have the option to buy the 29-year-old at the end of the season for around four million euros, according to sports daily l'Equipe's website.

Kezman spent four years at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, joining Premier League side Chelsea in 2004.

He failed to make an impression at the London club and moved to Atletico Madrid the following season. He joined the Turkish club in 2006.

However a club statement from Fenerbahce later said: “Our club, concerning negotiations with Paris Saint Germain, has presented an offer which has still not had a reply. Information confirming that an agreement has been found (…) is wrong.”

Source:AFP via Yahoo! News

Fenerbahce Not Interested In Xabi Alonso!.

Fenerbahce denied Wednesday media reports claiming that the club was in a move to sign a deal with Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Several media reports said that Fenerbahce was bargaining with English club Liverpool, the club said in a statement posted in its website.

"These reports are not true," Fenerbahce said.

"We have no intentions to transfer Xabi Alonso," it said.

NEW SPONSOR FOR GALATASARAY!...

Turk Telekom signed sponsorship deal with Galatasaray.

Galatasaray signed a sponsorship with Turkey's biggest fixed-line phone company, starting from the 2009-2010 football season, Turk Telekom said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Galatasaray Sportif Sinai and Ticari Yatirimlar AS- Turk Telekomunikasyon AS accord also covers Galatasaray's new stadium, which will be named Turk Telekom Stadium for 10 years, it said.

The companies declined to disclose details of the deal's value; however said Wednesday Galatasaray would receive $40 million from Turk Telekom for the agreement.