Galatasaray SK 1-0 Kocaelispor: Match Recap and Result

Match: 13 September 2026, 17:00 UTC · Published: 13 September 2026 · 352 words

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Galatasaray SK beat Kocaelispor 1-0 in the Super Lig, A. Bardakci's second-half goal enough to win a match the home side had controlled from the opening exchanges. Kocaelispor stayed in it until late, then left without a shot on target.

Match Summary

Galatasaray SK set the tone early, pinning Kocaelispor back and looking for a first-half lead. D. Gul had the ball in the net after 12 minutes, only for that effort to be ruled out, so the score remained 0-0. The home side kept the ball, stacked corners, and still could not break through before the interval. Kocaelispor reached half-time level despite long spells without possession.

After the restart the pattern did not change. Galatasaray continued to occupy the visitors' half until the 71st minute, when A. Bardakci scored with A. Batrakov as the provider. That was the only goal. From there the home side managed the lead, Kocaelispor never forced a save, and the match finished 1-0.

Key Moments

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The ruled-out effort from D. Gul was costly in the moment because it left Galatasaray chasing a breakthrough instead of protecting a lead. Kocaelispor's compact defending then looked capable of taking a point for a long stretch of the second half.

The combination of A. Batrakov and A. Bardakci decided the result. One goal was always likely to be enough once the visitors had failed to register a shot on target, and it arrived late enough that Kocaelispor had little time to adjust.

Match Statistics

Galatasaray held 63 percent of possession and produced 26 shots, seven of them on target, for 2.21 expected goals. Kocaelispor had 37 percent, 10 shots, none on target, and 0.62 expected goals. Corners finished 16-3 to the home side. Match statistics listed three yellow cards for Galatasaray and one for Kocaelispor, with no red cards.

What the Result Means

Galatasaray sit second in the Super Lig with 10 points from four matches and a goal difference of plus six, three wins and one draw in their last four. Kocaelispor are third on nine points from four matches, goal difference plus two, with three wins and one loss in their last four. A single point splits the two sides.