Bursaspor beat Trabzonspor 1-0 in the away match |
 Bursaspor beat Trabzonspor 1-0 away in their Spor Toto Super League clash at Hüseyin Avni Aker Stadium on Sunday to return home with maximum points in the thrilling "Anatolian derby."
A beautiful solo effort goal by 28-year-old Argentine Pablo Martin Batalla in the 62nd minute was the only thing that separated the two teams, but it was more than enough to give the Green Crocs their first ever victory over the Black Sea Storm in Trabzon. Ironically, it was also Trabzonspor’s first home loss in the league this season.
Bursaspor coach Ertuğrul Sağlam was serving a one match suspension and so was also banned from appearing at the post-match news conference. His assistant, Mutlu Topçu, deputized for him.
“We are happy that we could give our fans a holiday present. But that our chairman [İbrahim Yazıcı] fell ill after the match has made us very sad,” said Topçu, which means “gunner.” He continued, “The important thing was to earn three points and we are mightily happy that we accomplished this feat.”
There was another first on Sunday as Hector Cuper’s Orduspor lost 3-0 away against Gaziantepspor for the tiny Black Sea side’s first league defeat this season.
A brace by Antep’s Sarajevo-born Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder Haris Medunjanin in the third and 41st minutes and another by Argentine forward Ismael Sosa in the 77th did all the damage.
There is an old saying, “What goes up must come down.” And so Orduspor’s meteoric rise ended in Gaziantep on Sunday, meaning there is no longer any undefeated team in the 18-strong Super League.
Trabzon ‘robbed’
It is worth noting, however, that Trabzonspor was robbed of a precious point after a goal by Dortmund-born midfielder Yasin Öztekin in the third minute of stoppage time (93rd) was disallowed by referee İlker Meral.
Television replays showed it was a perfect goal and all football experts in the land are scratching their heads and questioning the wisdom, if any, of Meral awarding a free kick -- instead of a goal -- against Trabzonspor.
Trabzonspor coach Şenol Güneş naturally appeared frustrated and forlorn after the match as he tried to comment on the disallowed goal.
“The referee at first allowed play to continue, but changed his mind after the goal was scored [by Yasin],” he said.
“In my opinion the referee made controversial calls at the beginning of the match, but I don’t know whether he was trying to protect the visiting team [Bursaspor],” Güneş further said.
“But allowing play to continue and then blowing his whistle after a goal was scored in the last minute was very interesting indeed. And I think the referee himself [Meral] should clarify the matter,” he added.
The result means Trabzonspor and Bursaspor have 13 points apiece from nine matches, five behind champion and leader Galatasaray.
The other match on Sunday between Kardemir Karabükspor and Gençlerbirliği ended just exactly the way it started: 0-0
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