Antalyaspor secured a thrilling 3-2 win against Hatayspor in the Trendyol Süper Lig's 22nd week, marking Emre Belözoğlu's first victory as head coach of the team. The encounter, played at Mersin Stadyumu, was a display of resilience as Antalyaspor repeatedly took the lead, successfully managing to hold onto it this time.
The match kicked off at 1:30 PM local time on February 1, 2025. The first significant moment came early, as Antalyaspor was awarded a penalty in the 21st minute. Braian Samudio stepped up to convert the penalty, putting his team 1-0 up. This lead set the tone for what would be a very competitive game.
Hatayspor responded quickly, showing determination to equalize. They managed to do so just eight minutes later, at the 30-minute mark, when Abdülkadir Parmak headed the ball home from a well-placed cross from Bilal Boutobba, leveling the score at 1-1.
But Antalyaspor was quick to reclaim the lead, with Sander van de Streek scoring again in the 39th minute, courtesy of an assist from Bünyamin Balcı. The score at halftime stood 2-1, leaving Hatayspor with much to ponder as they prepared for the second half.
After the break, Hatayspor persisted with their attacking efforts, and their determination paid off again. They were awarded their own penalty after Fernandes was brought down by Samudio. Vincent Aboubakar confidently converted the spot-kick, bringing the score back to 2-2.
Once again, Antalyaspor responded with urgency. They restored their lead for the third time just minutes later. Ramzi Safuri, who had been brought on as a substitute, scored the winning goal at the 86th minute, capitalizing on a swift counter-attack fueled by Jakub Kaluzinski's assist. This goal sent Antalyaspor fans wild as their side took the match to 3-2.
Throughout the match, several players made notable impacts, including Hatayspor's Cemali Sertel, who made several attempts on goal, and Kenan Piric, the Antalyaspor goalkeeper, who made key saves to deny Hatayspor from getting back on level terms again.
This victory was especially significant for Belözoğlu, who had previously experienced drawn and lost matches against Göztepe and Beşiktaş. Getting these three points was exactly what his team needed to build momentum for the rest of the season.
Despite the loss, Hatayspor displayed resilience and skill, with standout performances from Abdülkadir Parmak and Vincent Aboubakar, who made concrete contributions to their scoring efforts. Yet, they linger at just 10 points over nine matches, underlining the urgency for improvement.
Looking forward, Hatayspor will face Samsunspor next week, hoping to finally clinch their first win after experiencing nine consecutive games without victory. Meanwhile, Antalyaspor will play at home against Başakşehir, aiming to build on this newfound momentum and solidify their position within the league.