Two goals in the final minutes broke the tie and settled the title race with one matchday remaining in the Turkish League.
Galatasaray are Turkish champions for the fourth consecutive year, repeating a feat they last achieved in 2000. The title was secured with a dramatic 4-2 victory against Antalyaspor in the penultimate round of the league .
In Istanbul, Soner Dikmen twice (45+3 and 62m) put the struggling Antalyaspor ahead on the scoreboard, to the general surprise of those in the Rams Park stands.
Gala started by responding to the visitors’ advances, through Lemina (56m) and Osimhen ( 66m, penalty), before completing the comeback in the 88th minute, with a goal attributed to Osimhen, but which also involved a deflection off an opponent’s body.
Antalyaspor still tried to equalize, but ended up conceding a 4-2 goal on the counter-attack in the 90+4 minute, scored by Kaan Ayhan, who had come on two minutes earlier.
With one matchday still to be played, Galatasaray celebrates its 26th Turkish league title in history, extending its lead in this regard over rival Fenerbahçe [19], who will finish the current season in second place.
At Konyaspor’s home ground, Fenerbahçe , with Nélson Semedo in the starting eleven, did their part. They won 3-0 with a brace from Fred, but couldn’t postpone the title race until the final matchday.
Trabzonspor extended their lead in third place, winning 2-1 away to fourth-placed Besiktas. Former Benfica player Kökçü scored the consolation goal for the Black Eagles , who featured Portuguese players Tiago Djaló (starter) and Jota Silva (entered in the 70th minute).
In the fight to avoid relegation, Kayserispor [lost 3-1 to João Pereira’s Alanyaspor] and Karagümrük [won 1-0 against Kocaelispor with Ricardo Esgaio in the starting lineup] were relegated this Saturday.
The remaining relegation spot is currently occupied by Antalyaspor, with 29 points, two less than Genclerbirligi, with Ricardo Velho and Pedro Pereira, who this afternoon recovered from a two-goal deficit to defeat Kasimpasa, with Cafu, 3-2.
Kasimpasa remains on 32 points, the same as when they entered matchday 33, and were caught in the standings by Eyüpspor, who thrashed Rizespor 4-0.
