İstanbulspor and Fatih Karagümrük played out a 1-1 draw in the Turkish 1. Lig on Saturday evening at the Esenyurt Necmi Kadıoğlu Stadium. The result leaves both sides with a point from their fourth league match of the season. Karagümrük travel to ninth place with seven points while İstanbulspor remain rooted to 19th on two points.
İstanbulspor took an early lead through Alieu Cham in the seventh minute. Karagümruk hit back almost immediately with Emre Akbaba's equaliser in the 13th. Aleksandar Pešić's goal was then confirmed after a VAR review, giving his side the lead for the first time. The visitors refused to go away after that intervention.
Davide Biraschi picked up a yellow card in the 32nd minute before a flurry of changes around the hour mark. Dorukhan Toköz was substituted in the 62nd alongside Tiago Cukur, while Daniele Verde also came on for Karagümrük. Pešić was withdrawn in the 69th minute as the hosts tried to hold what had become a lead.
Karagümrük dominated possession at 57 per cent and recorded 120 attacks compared to İstanbulspor's 47. The visitors registered five shots on target against three for the hosts. İstanbulspor's goalkeeper made four saves to keep his side in the match, while Karagümrük's keeper was called into action only twice.
The draw extends İstanbulspor's winless run to four matches. They have drawn twice and lost twice since the season began, with results including defeats to Van BB and Bandırmaspor. Karagümrük are on a good run with two wins and a draw from their opening four games.
Essap Njie and Ahmed Traore picked up yellow cards in the closing stages as tensions rose. İstanbulspor made six substitutions in total while Karagümrük brought on four players. The match ended with both sides sharing the spoils after a competitive encounter.
