Galatasaray crushes Beşiktaş’s title hopes in Istanbul derby

ISTANBUL

Turkish Super League Galatasaray defeated Beşiktaş 2-0 late on April 29, extending its stay atop only three weeks before the end of the season and crushing its city rival’s title hopes. 

Galatasaray coach Fatih Terim praised his players after the game. They “have to spend the remaining 270 with courage no less than this evening,” he said.

Galatasaray took advantage early on its own pitch when Yuto Nagatomo’s low driven cross found Fernando Reges inside the penalty area in the 22nd minute.

Beşiktaş’s defender Dusko Tosic was sent off with a straight red card in the 65th minute and Galatasaray gained a penalty but Bafétimbi Gomis, the top scorer of the league, failed to convert it.

However, Garry Rodrigues’s powerful strike inside the penalty area in the 70th minute gave Galatasaray a 2-0 lead.

“We played like a champion,” he said after the game.

Fans welcomed players at the club facilities on the European side of the city, singing songs of championship.

The victory kept Galatasaray in the lead as other title contenders Başakşehir and Fenerbahçe did not stumble.

Başakşehir, which beat Ankara’s Osmanlıspor 4-1 only hours before the Istanbul derby coming from behind in the second half, now has 65 points, one less than the leader.

Fenerbahçe, meanwhile, beat city rival Kasımpaşaspor also 4-1 a day earlier, rising to the third spot with 63 points.

Beşiktaş is now in fourth place, four points behind Galatasaray, with three weeks to go.

“I don’t want to talk too much. We are deeply saddened by this result,” said a disappointed coach Şenol Güneş after the game.

This was Beşiktaş’s first loss against Falatasaray in the past three years under Güneş.

On May 6, Galatasaray will visit Akhisar, which was held by a goalless draw with Malatyaspor this week.

Başakşehir will take on Sivasspor on May 4, the opening game of the week, to face a rival that fights for next year’s last Euoropean competition spot. Sivas beat Gençlerbirliği 1-0 on April 28.

Fenerbahçe will host Bursaspor as Beşiktaş will take on Kayserispor.