Istanbul: Galatasaray reclaimed the top spot in the Turkish Super Lig with a 1-0 victory over visiting Kocaelispor in their match on Sunday evening at Rams Park Stadium, as part of the fifth round of fixtures. The lone goal was scored by Abdlkerim Bardak§i in the 71st minute, bringing his team’s points tally to 13 and maintaining their lead in the Turkish league.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Galatasaray started the match with attacking pressure, and Gabriel Sara almost opened the scoring in the fourth minute with a free kick from the right side of the penalty area, but Kocaelispor goalkeeper Serhat ztasdelen parried the ball away for a corner.

In the 15th minute, the home side thought they had scored the first goal. After a long-range shot from Torreira rebounded off goalkeeper Serhat, Deniz Gl followed up inside the six-yard box, before the ball reached Leo, who shot towards the far post. After Zoukro failed to clear the ball, Deniz Gl headed it into the net. But referee Atilla Karaoglan consulted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and disallowed the goal, ruling that Deniz Gl had fouled the goalkeeper after Torreira’s shot.

Galatasaray continued to press; in the 24th minute, Baris Alper Yilmaz fired a shot from the right corner of the penalty area, but the ball went just wide of the near post. In the 31st minute, Deniz Gl cut in from the left and unleashed a shot that rebounded off the far post, before Gabriel Sara sent the follow-up over the bar.

Kocaelispor responded in the 38th minute through Agi, who entered the penalty area from the left and fired a shot that struck the near post and went out. Before the end of the first half, Leo missed a chance when his shot went just wide, and then Serhat made a save in the first minute of added time (45+1) after a cross from Baris Alper Yilmaz. In the second minute of added time (45+2), the goalkeeper tipped Abdlkerim Bardak§i’s header over the bar for a corner.

At the start of the second half, Gabriel Sara attempted a direct free kick in the 51st minute, but his shot went over the crossbar. The breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Abdlkerim Bardak§i received a pass from Alexei Patrakov and unleashed a powerful, precise shot from outside the penalty area that nestled into the bottom left corner of Serhat ztasdelen’s net, giving Galatasaray a 1-0 lead.

Galatasaray maintained their lead until the final whistle, leaving Kocaelispor defeated and with 9 points.

In the next round, Galatasaray will visit Trabzonspor before the international break, while Kocaelispor will host Gaziantep.