Turkish Super League Round 28: Antalyaspor 1-4 Gazisehir Gaziantep
In a stunning and lopsided affair at the Antalya Stadium on Saturday evening, Gazisehir Gaziantep delivered a commanding 4-1 away victory over Antalyaspor. The result, which saw the visitors race into a three-goal lead before halftime, significantly boosts Gaziantep's survival hopes while dealing a severe blow to Antalyaspor's ambitions in the top half of the table.
Gaziantep set the tone early, finding the net within the first ten minutes to silence the home crowd. They doubled their advantage midway through the first half with a well-worked team move, and a third goal just before the interval effectively killed the contest. Antalyaspor emerged with more purpose after the break and managed to pull a goal back, offering a glimmer of hope. However, any thoughts of a miraculous comeback were extinguished when Gaziantep restored their three-goal cushion with a clinical finish on the counter-attack in the 70th minute. The home side struggled to create clear chances against a disciplined and resilient Gaziantep defense for the remainder of the match.
The standout performer was Gaziantep's forward, who was involved in two of the goals and capped his display with a fine solo effort. For Antalyaspor, it was a night of defensive disarray, with their backline repeatedly exposed by Gaziantep's direct and pacey attacks. The result sees Gaziantep climb out of the relegation zone, providing a massive morale and points boost. Conversely, Antalyaspor's inconsistent form continues, leaving them in a disappointing mid-table position with little left to play for this season. Post-match, the Antalyaspor manager lamented his team's lack of intensity, stating, "We were not present in the first half, and you cannot give a team that much space and expect a positive result." His Gaziantep counterpart praised his players' application, saying, "The mentality from the first minute was perfect. We executed our plan and showed great character away from home."
Antalyaspor Starting XI: (Formation: 4-2-3-1) Boffin; Sari, Sertel, Ozturk, Vural; Fernando, Fredy; Balde, Buksa, Larsson; Adriano.
Gazisehir Gaziantep Starting XI: (Formation: 4-3-3) Nita; Kitsiou, Djilobodji, Kaya, Pehlivan; Maxim, Soyalp, Jevtovic; Figueiredo, Mirallas, Maxim.