Tired Galatasaray in do-or-die match

Galatasaray will be looking for a win, or at least a draw, when it faces third-place Trabzonspor on Sunday. However, Galatasaray will need a fast recovery following the tough Hamburg test in the UEFA Cup midweek.Â

Playing against the German side Thursday, Galatasaray started the match confidently, and hit Hamburg with a counter attack in the 32nd minute, when midfielder Ayhan Akman completed a beautifully-constructed goal. More counter attacks would have been on the way in the second half when Hamburg was supposed to take more risks, but the tide turned quickly, after Emre Aşık’s red card in the 53rd minute.

The only decent central defender in the squad after Servet Çetin and Emre Güngör were lost to injuries and Fernando Meira was sold to Zenit St. Petersburg earlier in the week, Aşık was sent off because for a professional foul. One of the unlikeliest of names to be placed at the back, winger Harry Kewell adopted the role of central defender. And amazingly, it worked. The Australian made very few mistakes and could not be held accountable for Hamburg’s equalizer.

His new position was a surprise for some, but not for coach Bülent Korkmaz. "Before the game, we planned to put Kewell there in case some unwanted things happen," Korkmaz said. "He drew on his experience and intelligence to adapt to that position. He has played as a defender at younger levels."

The game ended 1-1, good for an away team and valuable after playing almost 40 minutes with 10 men, but this depleted squad may give the coach harder times against Trabzonspor.

Given that Trabzonspor lost its last two home games, Sunday’s game is a do-or-die for both teams.