By Our Man in Antalya
THE sun may shine on the Turkish Riviera, but there is a dark cloud hanging over Corendon Airlines Park this morning. Antalyaspor’s survival hopes took a massive dent as a clinical Konyaspor side marched into town and escaped with all three points in a dominant 2-0 victory.
While the Scorpions were hoping to use home advantage to pull away from the drop zone, it was the visitors who looked like the stars of the show. Jackson Muleka continues to prove why he is the name on everyone’s lips in the Süper Lig, delivering a masterclass in forward play that the home defense simply couldn’t handle.
Konyaspor didn’t wait long to make their mark. With the flair of a side pushing for a top-half finish, they dictated the tempo from the first whistle. The breakthrough came via the ever-dangerous Diogo Gonçalves, whose precision finish silenced the home crowd and set the tone for the evening.
Antalyaspor, led by Sander van de Streek, tried to claw their way back, but they lacked the finishing touch that has deserted them for much of this season.
Despite flashes of brilliance from Nikola Storm, the Scorpions looked toothless against a Konyaspor backline that remained as stubborn as a Mediterranean mule.
Muleka Magic
The game was effectively put to bed by Jackson Muleka. The star striker, who has been in scintillating form this term, found the net to double the lead and ensure there was no way back for the hosts.
His sixth goal of the campaign cements his status as Konya’s talisman, leaving Antalyaspor manager Alex de Souza with plenty of headaches as the season reaches its business end.
The result leaves Antalyaspor precariously perched just above the relegation zone, while Konyaspor leapfrog into a comfortable 9th place. For the hosts, the “A” in Antalya stands for Anxiety; for Konyaspor, it stands for Absolute Class.
Match Stats
Score: Antalyaspor 0-2 Konyaspor
Goals: Diogo Gonçalves, Jackson Muleka
Man of the Match: Jackson Muleka (Konyaspor)
