Football: Super Lig leader Sivas beat Besiktas 2-1

Sivasspor are in top spot with 40 points while Besiktas are in 7th place with 30 points, 10 points behind leader

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Super League leaders Demir Grup Sivasspor on Sunday beat Turkish giants Besiktas 2-1 to stay comfortably on top.

In an away match in Istanbul, Sivasspor's goals came by Erdogan Yesilyurt in the 7th minute and Mustapha Yatabare in the 45th minute while Adem Ljajic scored Besiiktas's sole goal in the 33rd minute.

Sivasspor's Ugur Ciftci got a red card in the 67th minute.

Following this result, Sivasspor are in the top spot with 40 points while Besiktas are seventh place with 30 points, 10 points behind the leader.

Fans have witnessed a thrilling title race this season as the underdog Demir Grup Sivasspor showed unexpected form with a smaller budget than the league's title contenders.

Sivasspor now sit at the top of the table, four points ahead of second-place Medipol Basaksehir and seeking to maintain their heroic run for the rest of the season.

On Saturday, Medipol Basaksehir thrashed BtcTurk Yeni Malatyaspor 4-1 at home to extend their unbeaten run to 16 matches (10 wins, 6 draws) in Turkey’s top-tier football league.

Basaksehir are currently in second place with 36 points, four points away from leader Sivasspor.

Turkish Super Lig title contenders Galatasaray also defeated Yukatel Denizlispor 2-1 on Sunday.

At home at Turk Telekom Stadium in Istanbul, defending champions Galatasaray's goals came from Turkish international Emre Akbaba in the 26th minute and Colombian star Radamel Falcao in the 57th minute, while Muhammet Ozkal scored Denizlispor's sole goal in the 64th minute.

Galatasaray's new transfers Uruguayan left-back Marcelo Saracchi and Nigerian right-winger Jesse Tamunobaraboye Sekidika both took to the field.

The Lions are currently in sixth place with 30 points, 10 points away from the top spot.

Meanwhile, Trabzonspor stunned Kasimpasa 6-0 at home to stay in third place with 35 points in the league.

Trabzonspor, with six goals, have the record for scoring the most goals in a single match this season.

Fenerbahce are currently in fourth place with 34 points, six points behind the top spot.

- Week 18 results in the Super Lig are as follows:

Friday:

Ankaragucu - Ittifak Holding Konyaspor: 0-1

Saturday:

Aytemiz Alanyaspor - Hes Kablo Kayserispor: 5-1

Medipol Basaksehir - BtcTurk Yeni Malatyaspor: 4-1

Gaziantep FK - Fenerbahce: 0-2