Football: Galatasaray on verge of becoming champions

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Galatasaray are on the verge of becoming champions in Turkey's Spor Toto Super Lig for the 21st time after defeating Yeni Malatyaspor 2-0 on Saturday evening.

Two goals in the first 12 minutes of the action propelled Galatasaray's victory over their opponent and increasing their total points to 72 with only a game to go.

Galatasaray's scorers were Younes Belhanda and Bafetimbi Gomis, who were both assisted by Garry Rodrigues.

Gomis became the most goal scoring foreign player in the Turkish league's history with 28 goals, along with Fenerbahce legend Alex de Souza.

Galatasaray now only need a draw against Goztepe next week to claim the title.

Medipol Basaksehir, who chase Galatasaray along with Fenerbahce in the title race, won against Antalyaspor on Friday with a 2-0 score to keep their title hopes alive.

Basaksehir's goal came from Rijad Bajic in the first half and Edin Visca in the second half. The Istanbul club increased their total points to 69.

Basaksehir must win against Konyaspor next week and hope for Galatasaray and Fenerbahce to lose to their opponents to become champions.

The other title chasing club, Fenerbahce, will take on already relegated Karabukspor on Monday evening.

Fenerbahce need to win with a big goal margin against Karabukspor to increase their chances of keeping up with Galatasaray, who have scored seven goals more than Fenerbahce in the season.

The matches of the two archrivals in the season finished with a 0-0 draw.

Besiktas, with Galatasaray's Saturday victory, will be unable to win the league for a third year in a row.

After the Saturday matches, Genclerbirligi are relegated from the league accumulating only 30 points, 5 worse than 15th place Teleset Mobilya Akhisarspor.