Turkicell Super League - week 9 - Saturday action

After the disappointment of the Turkish national team not qualifying for the World Cup in 2010, seeing the Turkcell Super League start back up is a welcome sight for Turkish football fans.  Saturday action in the Turkcell Super League would feature just two matches.  The struggling Beşiktaş took on lowly Kasımpaşa, while Bursaspor took on Denizlispor.  Eskişehirspor would have the bye week this week as they would have taken on the now-disqualified Ankaraspor.

The action would begin in Denizli as Denizlispor took on Bursaspor.  Denizlispor got off to a fast start, and would take the early lead in the 14^th minute as Emil Angelov put the home side up 1-0.  Bursaspor equalized through Turgay Bahadir’s goal in the 44^th minute, and the halftime score was 1-1.  The action picked up in the second half.  Pablo Batalla scored in the 62^nd minute to put Bursaspor ahead in the match 2-1.  As if falling behind in the match wasn’t bad enough, Denizlispor would be down to ten men as Koffi picked up a straight red in the 72^nd minute.  Denizlispor didn’t give up though, and tied the game with Darryl Roberts scoring in the 75^th minute.  At 2-2, Denizlispor looked to hold on for the tie.  However, Tomas Zapatocny channeled his inner Semih Senturk, or Jonathan Bornstein (whichever is preferred), and scored in the 90+3 minute to give Bursaspor the win.
The final match of Saturday action saw Beşiktaş at home against Kasımpaşa.  There was a steady rainfall going through the game, but the players played through the weather.  Nihat Kahveci put the home team up 1-0 in the 8^th minute.  A slight deflection off a Kasımpaşa defender made the ball go into the back of the net.  In the 32^nd minute, Kasımpaşa had a chance with a Murat Erdogan shot, but the ball went off the crossbar.  Beşiktaş doubled their lead in the 38^th minute.  Rodrigo Tabata made a wicked backheel pass to Bobo, and Bobo’s shot was hard into the upper left hand corner of the net.  Beşiktaş looked like they were going to cruise to three points as they were up 2-0 at the half.  In the second half, the Carsi supporters group turned their backs on the field, again, protesting the board of Beşiktaş and demanding the board resign.  The match became more of a midfield struggle, but Beşiktaş made it interesting.  First, Fabian Ernst picked up his second yellow of the game in the 83^rd minute and was sent off.  Four minutes later, Matteo Ferrari picked up a straight red for a foul in the penalty area.  Kasımpaşa’s Andre Moritz converted from the penalty spot and halved Beşiktaş’ lead to 2-1.  The match looked like it was going to be interesting with Beşiktaş down to nine players, but Beşiktaş held on for the three points.
Tomorrow should be interesting.  The featured match of the week will be Galatasaray vs. Trabzonspor in a “champions derby” if you will.  The referee for that match will be Mustafa Kamil Abitoğlu.  That will take place at 1:00pm EST, 12:00pm CST, and 10:00am PST.  Other matches for tomorrow are as follows: Gençlerbirliği-Sivasspor (Muhsin Ertuğral’s debut as Sivasspor’s coach), İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor-Manisaspor, Kayserispor-Ankaragücü, Gaziantepspor-Fenerbahçe, and Antalyaspor-Diyarbakırspor.