League leaders Sivasspor stun Besiktas

The surprise package of the season, Sivasspor, shocked Besiktas with a 2-1 victory in Istanbul on Sunday evening.

Turkish Super Lig title hopefuls Sivasspor slayed yet another giant in their quest for their first-ever domestic league title as they defeated Besiktas 2-1 at Vodefone Park in Istanbul on Sunday.

The Anatolian football club drew first blood in the 7th minute with a goal from a perfectly taken free kick by Erdogan Yesilyurt, whose shot was spilled into the net by Besiktas goalkeeper Loris Karius.

The German goalkeeper was criticized heavily by fans and pundits alike for yet another sub-par performance, with some calling for the club’s management to end his loan and sign an alternative before the January transfer window closes.

Besiktas midfielder Adem Ljajic equalized for the home side in the 33rd minute but it was short lived when Sivasspor forward Mustapha Yatabare gave his team the lead just before the break in the 45th minute.

However, Sivasspor were reduced to 10 men in the 67th minute when midfielder Ugur Ciftci was sent off with a red card which game Besiktas a glimmer of hope as they pushed for an equalizer in the second-half of the game.

Fortunately for Sivasspor, the Black Eagles were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage as the game finished 2-1 for the away side, leaving Sivasspor firmly in first place with 40 points.

After Sunday’s loss to Sivasspor, Besiktas remain in 7th place with 30 points.

Sivasspor, coached by Turkish coach Riza Calimbay, have been praised by football experts and pundits all across Turkey for their organized style of football and making the most of their small operating budget compared to traditional powerhouses such as Besiktas, Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

Moments after the match official blew his referee to end the duel, hundreds of Sivasspor fans took to the streets in Sivas to celebrate their team’s slaying of another Turkish football giant.

Sivasspor have, so far, managed to defeat Besiktas, Trabzonspor and Fenerbahce this season.

During the final moments of the game, chants around stadium calling for current Besiktas manager Abdullah Avci to resign were heard and for Turkish coach Sergen Yalcin — a former Besiktas midfielder turned coach — to replace him.

Yalcin was recently dismissed from the managerial role at Yeni Malatyaspor.