Cengiz Ünder

Turkey heads to Montenegro on Nov. 16 night knowing that a victory would be enough for it to secure a top-two finish in its 2022 World Cup qualification group.

The country is currently second in Group G, level on points with third-placed Norway, while Montenegro is down in fourth and will finish in that position regardless of what happens on the final matchday.

Turkey kept their 2022 World Cup finals hopes alive after securing a dramatic 2-1 win over Latvia in qualifiers on Oct. 11. 

The first half ended goalless at Daugava Stadium in the capital Riga.

Latvia took the lead thanks to Merih Demiral's own goal in the 70th minute.

Turkey managed a 1-1 draw on Oct. 8 against Norway in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying group match in Istanbul.

Turkish winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored the opening goal in the sixth minute after his team's pressure on Norway's defense at Istanbul's Ülker Stadium.

Aktürkoğlu was assisted by Cengiz Ünder.

Roma's Cengiz Ünder (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between Roma and Inter Milan at the Rome Olympic stadium on Dec. 2.

Turkish Super League's second-spot Medipol Başakşehir, the dark horse of the season, handed defending champion Beşiktaş a major wound, if not vital, beating the leader 3-1 late on April 30.

The home side began the game at a fast pace and took an early 3-0 lead with back-to-back goals from 19-year-old Cengiz Ünder and Emmanuel Adebayor in the first 18 minutes.

The Spor Toto Turkish Super League resumes this weekend after a national team break with Medipol Başakşehir, in hot pursuit of leader Beşiktaş, visiting relegation-threatened Akhihsar Belediyespor on April 1. 

Spor Toto Super League leader Medipol Başakşehir refused to allow Beşiktaş to overtake it atop the table in an exciting draw between the top flight's last two unbeaten teams during a Nov. 26 match at Beşiktaş's Vodafone Arena.

"We are sad that we missed out on the win but happy to keep the lead," said visiting Başakşehir coach Abdullah Avcı after the game.

Istanbul underdog Medipol Başakşehir thrashed Akhisar Belediyespor 5-1 at home on Oct. 30 to remain atop the Turkish Spor Toto Super League, as its closest rival Beşiktaş dropped two points against Gençlerbirliği in Ankara.
Başakşehir has won seven of its first nine games of the season, remaining unbeaten for the past 18 matches from last season. 

Turkish Spor Toto Super League leader Medipol Başakşehir stormed Mediterranean resort city's Aytemiz Alanyaspor on Oct. 2, taking another step toward proving that it is not the rabbit in the marathon but a merciless serious title contender.