Galatasaray held to draw in first game under new coach

Galatasaray faltered in its first game under new coach Mustafa Denizli on Nov. 29, being held to a 2-2 draw by Kas?mpa?a despite leading twice.

Spor Toto Super League leader Be?ikta? also dropped points on Nov. 29, losing 2-0 to high-flying Akhisar Belediye, while another title favorite, Fenerbahçe, was to play Trabzonspor in the week's final game late on Nov. 30.

Burak Y?lmaz put visiting Galatasaray up in the 13th minute against Kas?mpa?a, but the home side pulled back in the 32nd minute and the first half ended 1-1. 

The defending champion had a quick start in the second half when Hakan Balta scored in the 51st minute, however Brazilian defender Titi leveled the game again in the 76th minute to disappoint the visitors.

Referee Halis Özkahya was under fire for continuing the game in the 26th minute following a shot by Kas?mpa?a, as television footage clearly showed the ball bounced from inside the Galatasaray goal.

New Galatasaray coach Denizli was happy with the single point in his first game.

"In our current condition, I consider one point as a win," he told a post-game press conference.

The experienced coach, who signed a contract with the club on Nov. 26, said he only had held two training sessions with the squad.

"We have problems as a team, [and] when we overcome those, we will achieve what we have in our minds," said Denizli. "The team has lost unexpected points in the last weeks and is psychologically worn out. Time cures everything. Troubles are there to be solved; we will hopefully overcome them as a team."

The Spor Toto Super League, meanwhile, saw another coaching change over the weekend, when Bursaspor sacked Ertu?rul Sa?lam following a 2-1 home loss against Kayserispor on...