In one of the biggest surprises of the Turkish Cup so far, Karaköprü Belediyesi Spor Kulübü knocked out top-flight Atakas Hatayspor with a stunning 2-1 away victory on October 7, 2026. The lower-league side produced a disciplined and clinical performance to claim a famous cupset and advance to the next round.

Match Overview

Atakas Hatayspor, playing in front of their home fans, started as heavy favorites and dominated the early possession. However, they were stunned in the 12th minute when Karaköprü took the lead against the run of play. A quick counter-attack ended with a low cross that was turned in by Hasan Koç at the near post. Hatayspor responded well and created several chances, but they were met by an inspired goalkeeping display. The visitors doubled their lead in the 34th minute through a stunning free-kick from Ali Vural, which curled into the top corner. The home crowd was left in disbelief.

Key Moments

Hatayspor finally found a way back into the game in the 78th minute when Emre Demir headed home from a corner. That set up a tense finale, with Hatayspor throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer. Karaköprü's goalkeeper, Yusuf Erdoğan, made a string of saves, including a spectacular fingertip stop in the 89th minute to deny a goal-bound shot. The visitors held on through five minutes of stoppage time to secure a memorable win.

Tactical Story

Karaköprü Belediyesi set up with a deep defensive block and looked to hit Hatayspor on the break. Their two goals came from swift transitions, exposing the spaces left by Hatayspor's attacking full-backs. The underdogs defended with incredible discipline, throwing bodies in front of shots and winning every second ball. Hatayspor, despite having the lion's share of possession, struggled to break down a packed defense and were guilty of wasteful finishing. The tactical battle was won by the visitors, who executed their game plan to perfection.

Standout Players

• Yusuf Erdoğan (Karaköprü Belediyesi): The goalkeeper was the hero, making several world-class saves to keep his team ahead.
• Ali Vural (Karaköprü Belediyesi): His free-kick goal was a moment of pure quality that proved to be the difference.
• Emre Demir (Atakas Hatayspor): The striker scored the consolation goal and was his team's most dangerous player, but it wasn't enough.

What It Means

This result will go down as one of the standout upsets of the 2026-27 TUR Kupası. Karaköprü Belediyesi Spor Kulübü advance to the next round, where they will dream of another giant-killing. For Atakas Hatayspor, the defeat is a major blow to their season, and the pressure will mount on their manager. Cup exits to lower-league opposition are always painful, and this one will take some time to get over.