Fenerbahce came from a goal behind to beat Genclerbirligi 3-2.  However, all hopes of regaining top spot vanished after Galatasaray did the same to overcome Sivasspor 5-3, leaving them just a point away from from the championship.

It was a dramatic day in the Turkcell Super Lig where a total of 13 goals were scored in the 2 featured matches.  Fenerbahce fans saw 5 goals at Sukru Saracoglu and listened to another 8 go in at Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium.

The Yellow Canaries had to beat Genclerbirligi at home and hope that 3rd placed Sivasspor won against leaders Galatasaray.  13 minutes in news of Rigobert Song's own goal filtered around Sukru Saracoglu and optimism inside the stadium increased.

With Sivasspor winning 1-0 Fenerbahce fans expected their team to find another gear and take the lead in their own game.  However, Kahe and Genclerbirligi had other ideas and it was they who struck first on 30 minutes.

Zico had seen enough and 5 minutes later made a double substitution taking off Ali Bilgin and Claudio Maldonado for Semih Senturk and Colin Kazim Richards.

Just as everyone in Kadikoy was getting over the shock, news of 2 quick-fire Arda Turan goals suddenly meant Galatasaray went into a position of declaring their championship today.

As injury time of the first half was played, Alex floated in a trademark freekick into the Gencler box which Aurelio flicked goalwards and Edu converted.  When the half time whistle blew Galatasaray were champions and Fenerbahce a point ahead of Sivasspor in second place.

Both second halves kicked off simultaneously and within 5 minutes of the restart Sivasspor drew level when Mehmet Yildiz's effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by the assistant referee.  The home crowd had bearly finished celebrating when Semih Senturk put Fenerbahce into the lead on 52 minutes.

Galatasaray scored again through Ayhan and both sides were level for a third time when Sezer made it 3-3 on 67.  4 minutes after Sezer's leveller Deivid increased Fenerbahce's lead to 3-1 with a well placed header. 

After this moment all attention turned fully on to the match at Sivas in hope of a fourth goal for the Yigido's.  However, just as the red and white side were looking threatening Arda was put through and he made no mistake in completing his hattrick on 75 minutes.

This goal sunk all hopes and when Hakan pulled one back for Genclerbirligi on 82, most Fenerbahce fans were already heading for the exit.  When Galatasaray's Hakan Sukur ended the Sivasspor match as a contest on 85 minutes the stadium in Kadikoy was half empty.    

At the end of 90 minutes both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray mathematically secured their place in the Champions League for next season.  The champions however, will be confirmed on the final day and unless a mini-miracle happens the trophy will be heading to Mecidiyekoy for the 17th time.

anglofeb Man-of the-Match | Zico

Made crucial changes when things were not going well and perhaps turned the game with his double substitution after just 35 minutes.