Galatasaray downed in last minute, falls further
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Hürriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 09, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - A last-minute goal by Kayserispor's Mehmet Eren hands Galatasaray another upset draw, putting last year's champion at a distance from Sivasspor and Trabzonspor in the Turkcell Super League. The Lions blame referee Selçuk Dereli's decision to send off Brazilan star Lincoln
Maybe due to exhaustion from three Sivasspor games in 10 days, or what the club has called refereeing mistakes, Galatasaray was held to a 1-1 draw at the hands of Kayserispor in Saturday’s Turkcell Super League game.
Taking the lead in the 28th minute after a hard-fought goal by Congolese striker Shabani Nonda, Galatasaray had little time to enjoy its first goal. Only one minute after the goal by Nonda, Brazilian star Lincoln was sent off with a second yellow card. As the minutes went by, Galatasaray seemed to settle for the goal, as Coach Michael Skibbe brought on defensive midfielders Barış Özbek and Tobias Linderoth, who had recovered from injury to play for the first time in 160 days. When the clock ticked into the 90th minute, however, Mehmet Eren shot outside the box to beat goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Five points lost
The goal marked the loss of five points from a possible nine in the last three weeks, increasing Galatasaray’s lack of form woes. While the Lions were about to recoup morale with the return of important players from injury and Shabani Nonda’s convincing form, they were left away from the top ranks with a last-minute goal.
Coach Michael Skibbe said they had no change of plans and the league title was still up for grabs.
"I am sad about the goal that came in the last minute," said the German coach. "But that will not force us to change our plans. We are still aiming for the title and still follow the teams in the top spots."
Skibbe denied claims the team was performing poorly.
"I congratulate my players for their fine performance in the first half an hour," he said. "I congratulate the battle they then put up in the remaining hour."
The dramatic change of playing mentality was apparently caused by Lincoln being sent off, but Skibbe was not blaming the Brazilian for that.
Two yellow cards
The star attacker was given a yellow card in the 22nd minute, when he was expecting a penalty. But for referee Selçuk Dereli, it was a dive that led to a yellow card. Six minutes late, Lincoln handballed and was sent off.
"Sports fans and journalists are the best at judging these decisions, but Lincoln was right to expect a penalty," said Skibbe.
Kayserispor Coach Tolunay Kafkas was not happy with his side’s performance.
"We had the ball more but we were not productive," said Kafkas. "So, we should be seen as winning one point, instead of dropping two."
Galatasaray’s slump relieved the holders of the top two spots, Sivasspor and Trabzonspor.
Sivasspor comfortably beat lowly Kocaelispor 2-0, with the help of its foreign strikers Pini Balili and Yannick Kamanan on Saturday.
Unlike Sivas, Trabzonspor got three points the hard way, defeating Ankaragücü 2-1 only with a last-gasp goal by forward Umut Bulut.
"When the goal comes in the last minute, the joy it brings is unbelievable," said Bulut. "But that was a good lesson for us. From now on, we should concentrate better for games like that."
Taking the lead in the 28th minute after a hard-fought goal by Congolese striker Shabani Nonda, Galatasaray had little time to enjoy its first goal. Only one minute after the goal by Nonda, Brazilian star Lincoln was sent off with a second yellow card. As the minutes went by, Galatasaray seemed to settle for the goal, as Coach Michael Skibbe brought on defensive midfielders Barış Özbek and Tobias Linderoth, who had recovered from injury to play for the first time in 160 days. When the clock ticked into the 90th minute, however, Mehmet Eren shot outside the box to beat goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Five points lost
The goal marked the loss of five points from a possible nine in the last three weeks, increasing Galatasaray’s lack of form woes. While the Lions were about to recoup morale with the return of important players from injury and Shabani Nonda’s convincing form, they were left away from the top ranks with a last-minute goal.
Coach Michael Skibbe said they had no change of plans and the league title was still up for grabs.
"I am sad about the goal that came in the last minute," said the German coach. "But that will not force us to change our plans. We are still aiming for the title and still follow the teams in the top spots."
Skibbe denied claims the team was performing poorly.
"I congratulate my players for their fine performance in the first half an hour," he said. "I congratulate the battle they then put up in the remaining hour."
The dramatic change of playing mentality was apparently caused by Lincoln being sent off, but Skibbe was not blaming the Brazilian for that.
Two yellow cards
The star attacker was given a yellow card in the 22nd minute, when he was expecting a penalty. But for referee Selçuk Dereli, it was a dive that led to a yellow card. Six minutes late, Lincoln handballed and was sent off.
"Sports fans and journalists are the best at judging these decisions, but Lincoln was right to expect a penalty," said Skibbe.
Kayserispor Coach Tolunay Kafkas was not happy with his side’s performance.
"We had the ball more but we were not productive," said Kafkas. "So, we should be seen as winning one point, instead of dropping two."
Galatasaray’s slump relieved the holders of the top two spots, Sivasspor and Trabzonspor.
Sivasspor comfortably beat lowly Kocaelispor 2-0, with the help of its foreign strikers Pini Balili and Yannick Kamanan on Saturday.
Unlike Sivas, Trabzonspor got three points the hard way, defeating Ankaragücü 2-1 only with a last-gasp goal by forward Umut Bulut.
"When the goal comes in the last minute, the joy it brings is unbelievable," said Bulut. "But that was a good lesson for us. From now on, we should concentrate better for games like that."