Beşiktaş held in Bursa, Fener stops Ankaraspor

Beşiktaş was held to goalless draw by Bursaspor yesterday, but climbed up one spot to second place in the Turkcell Super League standings.

Despite high tension before the game, due to the rivalry between the supporters of the two teams, no major incidents occurred. Both teams were aiming to stop the opposing team instead of attacking, so the game was as dull as a goalless draw can get.

In yesterday's other games, Ankaragücü won 3-1 at Eskişehirspor, Sivasspor beat visiting Konyaspor 1-0, and two games ended in goalless draws; Kayserispor Ğ Antalyaspor in Kayseri and Hacettepe, Gaziantepspor in the capital.

On Saturday, Fenerbah?e beat high-flying Ankaraspor 2-0 at home to end the visiting side's seven-game unbeaten streak. Also Saturday, cellar-dweller Kocaelispor came from two goals behind to clinch its first win of the season 3-2 over Denizlispor.

In the week's opening game Friday, Trabzonspor's Umut Bulut headed in the only goal of the game in the 78th minute to give his team the three points against Gen?lerbirligi, helping Trabzonspor extend its lead at the top.

The Galatasaray - Istanbul Municipality game was still in progress as the Hürriyet Daily News went to press. Having beaten archrival Galatasaray 4-1 last week, putting an end to its miserable weeks of underachieving and endless questions on the future of coach Lois Aragones, Fenerbah?e was eager to get another victory over Ankaraspor.

But it was a tough game for the Istanbul side, especially before Brazilian Roberto Carlos scored the opener in the 30th minute. Carlos was the hero of the second goal, too, when his free kick hit two posts in the 54th before defender Lugano kicked it in.

Coach Aragones was happy with his team, especially the passing. "We have been focusing on passing in training sessions, tonight's game proved us right," he told reporters after the game. He also acknowledged the importance of free kicks. "We scored one goal against Galatasaray last week and both goals came from free kicks tonight," he said. "It is no surprise to me, as 60 to 70 percent of goals in football are scored from spot kicks."

Kocaman eyes Galatasaray
Ankaraspor coach Aykut Kocaman said his team was ready to defend spot kicks against Fenerbah?e. "We expected high crosses, but the goal came form a ground ball," he said. "There is not much to worry about, playing Fenerbah?e in Istanbul is always difficult. We will focus on next week's game against Galatasaray."

Before the game, Fenerbah?e fans warmly greeted Kocaman, who played for Fenerbah?e for many years. "I am a Fenerbah?e fan, there is no doubt about that," he said. "But I am also a professional, I leave my feelings aside." When asked if he dreamed of coaching Fenerbah?e, Kocaman said teams like Fenerbah?e were the places where you got what you really deserved.